tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252056822011-07-28T17:12:02.065-04:00The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.comBlogger2711100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-35708565632779117802010-02-07T10:02:00.004-05:002010-02-07T10:17:19.928-05:00

I was talking to someone recently about the many methods that people use to try to find a romantic partner and it occurred to me that one could use these same no-holds-barred methods to find work that is meaningful and enjoyable. So here is step one: Tell Everyone What I Am Looking For. Intelligent, capable woman with sense of humor and many skills is looking for the right work. She wants to:1.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-41603374567455742182010-01-01T12:52:00.003-05:002010-01-01T13:10:13.386-05:00

Everywhere I go online today someone is expressing relief that 2009 is behind us. I have to agree. What a nasty, depressing, bitch of a year. But it is over now and we can move on, I hope. I don't generally go in for big, loud celebrating on New Year's Eve. I like a quiet dinner with friends with some conversation and a little wine. I don't even need to be awake at midnight. After all, the

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-82157521772261651132009-12-24T14:36:00.008-05:002009-12-24T14:56:41.055-05:00

The Holiday Spirit has been elusive this year. I made all sorts of lists of things to bake and knit but most of them are still unmade. This morning though I felt more in the mood. I made some tea and cranked up the holiday music and got to work.I did not have a whirling dervish in my kitchen. The cats could not be persuaded to dance, even to Run Run Rudolph. Instead I give you...Coconut Rum

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-11621881142070499342009-12-20T10:29:00.005-05:002009-12-20T10:46:55.417-05:00

Are you still out there dear readers? Or have you moved on to blogs that update more than once a quarter? I cannot blame you if you have. But if you are still here, here are some pretty pictures of the first winter snowfall. We will have a white solstice this year.The PalisadesThe Columbia University CThe Henry Hudson Bridge

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-74860529742489273152009-09-15T11:23:00.003-04:002009-09-15T14:08:33.001-04:00

I seem to be posting only once a month. It is still sort of annoying to type for an extended period. But that will be over soon, I am getting my hand fixed.As some of you may know, I have had chronic problems with my right hand and wrist. Odd sensations, a feeling of internal pressure, and pain. Prior to having any health insurance I had gone to an acupuncturist and a massage therapist.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-67217089041550718762009-08-15T15:01:00.006-04:002009-08-15T16:21:41.236-04:00

You may be wondering what became of my happiness project. It's still going on. And I am not alone. The New York Times has a whole column about it called Happy Days: The Pursuit of What Matters in Troubled Times. The description says:The severe economic downturn has forced many people to reassess their values and the ways they act on them in their daily lives. For some, the pursuit of

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-34501013176946354702009-07-18T10:22:00.003-04:002009-07-18T11:24:48.372-04:00

I've been reading Brian Greene's "The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality". It's quite readable, particularly since he likes to use the Simpsons in his explanatory metaphors. Some chapter names:The Universe and the Bucket: Is Space a Human Abstraction or a Physical Entity?The Frozen River: Does Time Flow?Teleporters and Time Machines: Traveling Through Space and

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-68090107258439191142009-07-11T11:18:00.002-04:002009-07-11T12:10:14.242-04:00

Hi, my name is Plaid Sheep and I am a control freak. It has been less than 24 hours since I last felt entirely responsible for a nasty event while simultaneously imagining the worst possible outcome.What has prompted this? I'll tell you. (WARNING: Some soul searching ahead.) I joined an online group (a private group, entry must be approved) that had formed to deal with a problem created by a

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-64645839004480046082009-04-28T12:58:00.005-04:002009-05-02T10:59:52.269-04:00

I've been commenting on other's blogs with abandon but have not managed a post of my own. It's been a little crazy at work with several crises including a demand from the State of NY and our graphic design computer giving up the ghost. Fortunately it is the logic board rather than the hard drive so the things we failed to back up will be retrievable. But it's still a big fat headache and a big

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-72148844494242254172009-03-29T13:53:00.004-04:002009-03-29T13:57:16.841-04:00

someone took the time to write this article. And that another bunch of people took the time to comment. Oh, and that some poor soul at the CDC was forced to compile the data in the first place. Next up, the detrimental effects of paper cuts on work productivity.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-88963687636267405292009-03-26T13:46:00.002-04:002009-03-26T13:52:56.913-04:00

Every year the James Beard Foundation hands out awards to cookbooks.   There are several categories.  One of this year's nominees for Single Subject book is:Fat: An Appreciation of a Misunderstood Ingredient, with Recipes

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-61143221658538304192009-03-22T11:39:00.004-04:002009-03-22T12:55:59.189-04:00

5. Do not feel bad about being idle and still.One weekend not long ago I was just sitting on my bed. I thought to myself, "I should be knitting. I like to knit so I should be doing it otherwise I'm wasting my leisure time." I actually thought that. I mean, how crazy is that? X is fun so I must do X. That's what my leisure time is for, fun, dammit. Of course it's ridiculous. Why shouldn't I

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-57345992514048144312009-03-09T08:27:00.002-04:002009-03-09T08:42:56.078-04:00

In case you were wondering, I can confirm that avoiding habitual thinking is very, very hard. But hard work has its rewards. On Saturday I went to the park. Instead of taking my usual route in I took an alternate way and then I sat for a while in a spot where I don't usually sit. I'd been there for about 10 minutes when a hawk landed on a low branch not 12 feet from me. He was grand, almost

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-5644349427677148102009-03-01T10:10:00.004-05:002009-03-01T11:15:20.232-05:00

March has come in like a lion. It's snowing today and spring seems far away. This is always the hardest part of the winter for me, the home stretch. It seems as if spring will never come and then suddenly the world is green.AnticipationThough I am technically Christian - that is, I was baptized - I have never had faith or practiced beyond the occasional Christmas service. But there is one

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-88843446834082890102009-02-22T19:04:00.004-05:002009-02-22T19:28:12.804-05:00

4. Spend out a.k.a. Avoid Sunday Best SyndromeWhy is it that we like to save things for special occasions? The good china, the crystal glasses, the pretty blouse; we hide them away most of the time, saving them for who knows what. It is true, if you use something it may wear out or get broken or get used up. I have vanilla beans in my cupboard. I've had them since well before Christmas,

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-7466216850265598732009-02-15T20:18:00.003-05:002009-02-15T20:34:23.925-05:00

Happiness is fresh baked bread. Because this is so true I am going to make all the different breads in the Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day, one per week. I'm not doing them in order since that would result in my eating only flatbreads for several weeks. (One friend of mine asked me, "Why would you need anything but flatbread?" but I do think I should skip around.) I have already made several

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-79622032826806268522009-02-08T15:01:00.006-05:002009-02-08T15:50:33.992-05:00

Even before I began my Happiness Project I knew that there were lots of books on the subject. Many can be found at the local Barnes and Noble. However, wishing to avoid bankruptcy and loss of living space I went to the library. Or more accurately, I went to the library's online catalog. I typed in happiness under the "subject" search and got over 200 results. Some of my favorite titles

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-25366353413995898622009-02-04T17:25:00.003-05:002009-02-04T17:41:42.707-05:00

The next commandment on my list is short, sweet and really hard.3. Let it go.My brother-in-law can make a decision or a choice and regardless of how it turns out he does not revisit it over and over.  I would pay real money to be able to do that.  I love to replay things in my head, trying out different scenarios, as if by sheer force of persistence I could change how things turned out.  This is

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-82345093653846195312009-01-31T10:45:00.004-05:002009-01-31T11:34:47.126-05:00

In the continuing pursuit of my happiness project I've been doing some reading. Yesterday I was leafing through a short compilation of the writings of Marcus Aurelius who was a Stoic. These days the word stoic conjures up a stone faced guy with a stiff upper lip and no discernible emotions in the face of tragedy. In fact, the Stoics were really the Buddhists of the West. For example, Buddhism

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-5701253640786736512009-01-25T13:32:00.002-05:002009-01-25T14:00:52.842-05:00

You'll like this one.2. Never take anything too seriously (especially yourself)I often tell people that I have to make a wise-ass remark periodically or I start to feel uncomfortable. It's true. Humor is a necessity, right up there with breathing and eating. I can joke about pretty much anything. If you find someone who can't laugh at themselves, look out. Every now and then I catch myself

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-47598391464131436792009-01-24T21:03:00.002-05:002009-01-24T22:21:59.613-05:00

Part of Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project is a list of commandments she created for herself. This seemed like a fine idea so I am adopting it. Furthermore, I am co-opting her first commandment as my own. The rest of my list is not in any particular order but this first one is definitely the most important.1. Be Plaid Sheep.Seems simple enough, be myself. But it isn't simple at all. I don't

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-25931949438809700712009-01-18T15:54:00.003-05:002009-01-18T17:15:28.559-05:00

I found a new blog today. New for me, that is. It's called The Happiness Project and is written by Gretchen Rubin. I recommend it. Today's entry is particularly good - it's a quote from Simone Weil. I've had an abiding interest in the topic of happiness. It seems such an elusive thing. The Oxford English Dictionary has 4 definitions.The main one: The quality or condition of being happy.1.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-40868309484990292162008-12-20T11:17:00.003-05:002008-12-20T11:44:08.884-05:00

I've been reading a book this week that I want to send to everyone in this country. I especially recommend it to all of you bread-baking, tomato sauce-canning, home brewers. It is Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. I tried to read The Poisonwood Bible once but I just couldn't get into it. This is way better. She and her family moved to Appalachia and lived for one year (and

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-23650905615492995772008-12-14T21:34:00.007-05:002008-12-14T22:02:17.637-05:00

It has come to my attention that it's been 21 days since I last posted. I did not mean this to happen, really. It's not that I didn't know that December is almost half over, I think I just thought I had posted since November 23rd. You would think that at the very least I would have wanted to tell you about my lovely Thanksgivings (I had two, one on the day and one on Saturday). I made pumpkin

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-8295879458145160332008-11-23T15:02:00.007-05:002008-11-23T16:37:36.274-05:00

Lisa has posted about her Thanksgiving dinner plans. I got hungry just reading it. Thank goodness there is garlic roasting the oven for my afternoon snack. Her post reminded me that the holidays are well and truly here and I am just beginning to feel it.I used to work in retail. When you work in retail the holidays can never sneak up on you. They're larger than life,taking over everything

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-76395613315271332542008-11-22T09:52:00.003-05:002008-11-22T10:12:51.372-05:00

We're suffering from shock here in New York. We went from 60 degrees to 30 degrees pretty much overnight. And yet, people are still crawling along the sidewalks, stopping in bottlenecks, and generally getting in the way of those of us who want to get somewhere without our feet freezing to the sidewalk. I've been lobbying for a pedestrian passing lane for a while now. Everyone who wants to

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-48238317671984131992008-11-05T08:25:00.002-05:002008-11-05T08:38:23.323-05:00

Okay, who else wants to run down the street yelling WOO HOO!?Some people in my neighborhood did just that last night.After the 2000 election I stopped watching the results come in. I watch something frivolous instead. This time I was about to turn off the TV and go to bed when I decided just to take a peek. It was 11:04pm and they were announcing that Barack Obama had won. But even if I had

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-30589411179935976362008-11-01T15:17:00.003-04:002008-11-01T15:25:42.425-04:00

The last two days have been simply gorgeous, the kind of days that make you so glad just to be alive. Cool crisp air, clear skies, and golden sunlight. Enjoy.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-64819970540912293652008-10-19T20:51:00.007-04:002008-10-23T11:57:53.599-04:00

This weekend I went up to Dutchess County to visit my folks and to go to the New York Sheep and Wool Festival. The festival has been held every year since 1972. It began as a place for sheep farmers to buy and sell stock and fleeces. I don't know what the fair was like before the recent surge in knitters but now it is a mob scene. Last year the fair had 12,000 visitors on Saturday alone. I

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-77933125553916561162008-10-13T18:01:00.003-04:002008-10-13T18:05:50.145-04:00

I know, a post two days in a row. Don't get used to it.I thought you'd like to see the finished owl pillow. I made some attempts to carry the owls to the other side but nothing really worked so I left the trees as they were. Here is the finished pillow.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-72439827219021134022008-10-11T15:53:00.003-04:002008-10-11T16:00:50.000-04:00

As some of you know, my cousin became pregnant this year. It's a little bizarre since I remember when she was born and now she's having her own baby. Anyway, she gave birth on September 16 to a little girl. I haven't seen her yet but I suspect she's pretty cute. Her mom has always been cute and the dad looks like someone out of a Rat Pack movie. She had this giant baby shower back in August.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-47106690697710474982008-09-27T17:34:00.003-04:002008-09-27T17:42:05.111-04:00

Ok people, it's opinion time. I know you will not fail me.Here's the deal. I am making a pillow cover with some plain linen. I've embroidered some trees on it. I was intending to fill in the lines with more embroidery but now I'm not sure. I'm thinking I might like to just leave the outline. The other side of the pillow has a different fabric, very minimalist and linear. Look for yourself and

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-39436120549994117642008-09-22T20:09:00.004-04:002008-09-22T20:45:14.247-04:00

It's been a while hasn't it? In fact, it's been so long that I had no idea the Blogger Dashboard had changed. It's not that I didn't compose any blog posts. I did, in the park or on the train on the way to work. But when I got back to my computer it just didn't seem necessary to actually type them in and click Publish Post. But what of you, gentle readers? Had I forgotten you, abandoned you

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-66243277819782086762008-06-23T09:08:00.001-04:002008-06-23T09:09:28.823-04:00

At the Farmers' Market, man on a cell phone: Yeah, they've got vegetables and shit...

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-28526722214091928092008-06-17T20:21:00.003-04:002008-06-17T21:02:40.808-04:00

Can you believe it's almost the summer solstice? We're almost halfway through the year. It doesn't seem possible. I don't know why I should find that hard to believe. You'd think I'd be used to time passing by now. We all know that time is subjective. Some days take forever and others pass in the blink of an eye. I wonder if people in centuries past got together and complained about how

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-37612062154237057332008-05-29T21:20:00.003-04:002008-05-29T21:35:02.775-04:00

There is a marvelous restaurant here in New York called Florent. It's a kind of funky French bistro living in an old diner. For years its been a home to all sorts of different people. But now it's closing. The rent is set to jump sky high and Florent has decided he must close. Two friends of mine went for dinner there the other day, sad that it would probably be the last time. As they sat at

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-67915115761000088642008-05-21T20:49:00.003-04:002008-05-21T21:50:28.481-04:00

There used to be this cute little garden on a street a few blocks from me. It was tended by the tenants of the adjacent apartment building. Do you remember Lisa, it was on the corner of Seaman and Payson? Well, they tore it out and built a new building. It's not even a pretty building. It's just a big brick box. See? No character. I bet the neighboring buildings are really pissed. Here

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-82217746990081278262008-05-04T09:33:00.004-04:002008-05-04T09:49:02.064-04:00

I don't know about you, but I have been finding it harder and harder to shop for clothes. It seems like all the stores have the same trendy stuff and it's either sweatshop cheap or really overpriced. I have found a few independent stores (mostly in the East Village and on the Lower East Side) that have some cool stuff but those places tend to be out of my price range. Being a crafty type the

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-85718726429081512512008-04-30T08:46:00.005-04:002008-04-30T08:58:56.457-04:00

Hello again. I apologize for my recent absence. I simply have not wanted to turn on the computer unless it was absolutely necessary. I realize that for some, blogging is absolutely necessary, but not for me. At least not in the last three weeks.Anyway, there hasn't been too much excitement around here but I did get a new bookshelf. I decided to splurge a little and then it turned out it was

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-12037217484959145372008-04-09T20:38:00.003-04:002008-04-09T20:48:14.123-04:00

Did you know that Barnes & Noble has a new return policy? I discovered it today when I attempted to return something with a gift receipt. The new policy is: 14 days and you must have a receipt, period. This includes gifts with gift receipts though apparently they may let those go for 30 days at the managers' discretion. I do understand only 14 days for money back and I understand no returns

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-61528034410561764822008-04-01T07:32:00.003-04:002008-04-01T07:51:38.354-04:00

I went to the Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden this past weekend. It was fabulous. If you live in New York you should go, quick, before it's over this weekend. And if you can go in the middle of the week when there's fewer people, all the better. I love plants and flowers in general and orchids are particularly amazing. There are about 24,000 species of orchid on the World Orchid

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-59059752106737387402008-03-19T08:40:00.004-04:002008-03-19T08:47:54.817-04:00

While I was browsing around the web recently I discovered a little company that makes underwear, artisanal underwear if you will. It's called The Candi Factory and is located in Canada. They cost more than I usually pay for underwear but I think it's worth it.They've got great designs for both women and men. They are also very comfy. Go buy a pair or two. You know the cute underwear makes you

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-36841942430437081102008-03-05T18:10:00.003-05:002008-03-05T18:47:19.989-05:00

I know, it's been almost two weeks since I posted. Frankly, I haven't really had anything to say. Really. Yes, it's hard to believe. You may even want to note it down somewhere and wave it at me when I'm in full stream later. Today I ran across an article in the Times that may be of interest to the Worst Mamas Ever. It seems the New York school system is not above bribery to get those

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-61725114009964415222008-02-20T08:33:00.003-05:002008-02-20T08:43:22.488-05:00

I've been feeling a bit lazy this week so in lieu of riveting prose I give you.... kitties.Matched SetHappiness is a Paper BagOn a completely different note, while I was listening to the radio this morning the announcer began extolling the virtues of a concert performance and he used the phrase "leather-skinned timpani". But for a moment I thought he said leather-skinned Tiffany. Very different.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-7983022998893404782008-02-14T08:53:00.004-05:002008-02-14T09:19:04.128-05:00

I had intended to excuse my recent lack of blogging by telling you about the nasty and seemingly endless cold I've had. I was going to go on a bit about my insatiable need for sleep and the constant pressure in my head. Then I read Lisa's blog. Enough said.So instead I'm going to write about St. Valentine. There doesn't seem to be one clear story about him. He might be one of 3 different

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-5717710356181706912008-02-04T21:28:00.001-05:002008-02-04T21:47:47.048-05:00

Tomorrow is Super Tuesday, the day 24 states vote in the Primaries. Appropriately, is also Mardi Gras, aka Shrove Tuesday, aka Pancake Tuesday. This day was meant as the last hurrah before the season of Lent. It was also the day when you were supposed to go to confession and be shriven (i.e. receive absolution). All of this seems very much in line with the campaign trail. Get in your last

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-6402256634365795752008-02-04T21:28:00.000-05:002008-02-04T21:46:34.532-05:00

Tomorrow is Super Tuesday, the day we here in the Northeast vote in the Primaries. Appropriately, is also Mardi Gras, aka Shrove Tuesday, aka Pancake Tuesday. This day was meant as the last hurrah before the season of Lent. It was also the day when you were supposed to go to confession and be shriven (i.e. receive absolution). All of this seems very much in line with the campaign trail. Get

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-47733612367930589682008-01-31T09:21:00.000-05:002008-01-31T09:49:27.107-05:00

I didn't tell you about the dress form. For several years I had a dress form in my entryway. It always startled first time visitors. But then the form's owner came back from California and I had to give it back. I thought about replacing her (I'd begun to think of it as her) but professional dress forms are expensive. I couldn't really justify it since I am not a professional dressmaker and

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-2617555840012826102008-01-30T21:21:00.000-05:002008-01-30T21:34:55.512-05:00

It's been ten days since I last posted. I didn't mean to abandon you for so long but my work has been a little crazy the last couple of weeks. I certainly wasn't going to blog about work but there was nothing else in my head. But it's almost over. I hope.Anyway. I did do something fun on Saturday. I went to see a movie at MoMA and then I went to Macy's and bought two coats. Yes two. They

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-81332786557222403132008-01-20T16:36:00.000-05:002008-01-20T16:57:02.251-05:00

When I was little I would go to Yugoslavia every summer to visit my grandmother. One of my favorite things about these visits were the linen sheets I got to sleep on. Have you ever slept on linen sheets? No? I advise you to go out and get some for yourself. There's nothing better for summer nights. Cool and crisp, light as air, they feel wonderful on a warm night. My grandmother's sheets

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-47909346936113516702008-01-17T08:54:00.000-05:002008-01-17T09:13:00.573-05:00

It's only Thursday. It had already been a long week on Tuesday. There's something going around, some kind of nasty malaise. The symptoms (in varying combinations) are extreme fatigue, sore throat, headache, dizziness and the conviction that standing up and walking around would be really ill-advised. Several people at my job have it (as apparently does Lars) and it sent those of us still

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-880322247125023832008-01-12T10:34:00.000-05:002008-01-12T11:10:44.628-05:00

As has been noted elsewhere, it's the time of year for resolutions. Normally I don't make any, but this year I have. I don't know about you, but I've always had trouble expressing my wants, even to myself. I'm not talking about the little stuff. I can easily say "I want a second slice of cake" or "I want a new pair of shoes". I'm talking about the bigger stuff. Those wants that come up in

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-34841873814933371542008-01-06T21:15:00.000-05:002008-01-06T22:04:43.350-05:00

This year we all got a very special gift. My aunt scanned the family photos and put them on a DVD. Hold on, don't panic. I'm not going to share them all with you. But there are just a few that I thought you might find amusing.Here's me at age 8 with our dog Xanadu. No, she was not named after the movie but after the land in the Coleridge poem Kubla Khan. She's about 2 years old here and she

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-19127725047356134782008-01-04T08:38:00.000-05:002008-01-04T08:55:16.792-05:00

It's been quite some time since I posted. I got a little distracted. If I've spoken to you since Christmas I've probably gone on at some length about the horror that was the holiday baking. I will not go into it any further. Suffice it to say that I'm taking a little baking break.But I did want to post the last of the pictures. They came out pretty well.You may remember I mentioned making

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-48268025019091238462007-12-21T08:45:00.000-05:002007-12-21T08:52:11.309-05:00

Lemon curd. Sweet yet tart, creamy and delicious. And so easy to make you'll be wondering why you haven't been doing it for years. Ready?4 eggs1 1/2 cups sugarJuice of 4 lemons (about 6 oz)Zest of 4 lemons9 Tbs butterThis yields about 3 cups.Beat the eggs and sugar until well blended. Add the juice, zest, and butter and cook over simmering water-stirring constantly-until the mixture thickens.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-71689834772401457572007-12-18T21:36:00.000-05:002007-12-18T21:38:55.416-05:00

What really annoys me is that I never get to see it happening.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-88928245432285757142007-12-16T10:48:00.000-05:002007-12-16T11:04:56.291-05:00

My most favorite special breakfast is griddle cakes. And I do not mean Bisquick. My father makes great griddle cakes from his mother's recipe. That is the one I use, with a couple of slight alterations. A word of warning though. Once you have had these, you may never be satisfied with restaurant pancakes again.Griddle CakesYield: About 14 average sized cakes.1 cup flour1 cup fine cornmeal1

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-75397353793585421612007-12-11T21:36:00.000-05:002007-12-11T21:40:29.224-05:00

Freshly made Beet Apple Ginger Juice. The picture doesn't do the color justice. It's a deep magenta, sweet with a little ginger bite.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-68814042469349951332007-12-08T20:14:00.000-05:002007-12-08T21:22:00.087-05:00

I went for a walk today, mostly through Central Park. The weather was beautiful, sunny with just a hint of mist in the morning light.I entered the park at 67th street by Tavern on the Green. When you walk a ways up the road you pass by this gentleman.Daniel WebsterVery serious isn't he? Walk a little further and you come upon this guy:He's The Falconer, a replica of a statue in England.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-43721355176778460692007-11-30T21:01:00.000-05:002007-11-30T21:29:58.948-05:00

I may be in denial about the fact that it's almost December. It seems like it was September only yesterday. But I made it to the end of NaBloPoMo with only 1 day missed. I have a friend who is participating in NaNoWriMo. I haven't heard from him in a while. I wonder if he made it to 50,000 words. He's still got two and a half hours to go if he needs to get in a few more. I hope he got

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-44947477678127793812007-11-29T21:15:00.000-05:002007-11-29T21:50:51.256-05:00

Today the trees appeared on the sidewalks. Christmas trees that is. When I want to get mine I just go down to the main drag and pick one out. The vendor stuffs it into the tree wrapper and quick as a wink I'm on the way home dragging it behind me. That's not how it used to be.When I was 8 years old I went with my sister, my cousin Wendy and her friend Barbara to the Berkshires to pick out a

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-7871778753682557042007-11-28T22:38:00.000-05:002007-11-28T23:29:12.084-05:00

Since I seem to have hit some kind of blog wall I'm stealing the meme Epiphany stole from her dad.51. When did you go to your first funeral? I think I was 12. It was my uncle's mother's funeral. She was 90 something. I don't remember anything about it except that I didn't want to go.52. How old were you when you first moved away from your hometown? I lived in Yugoslavia for 1 year when I was

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-25284297935851329402007-11-27T21:10:00.000-05:002007-11-27T21:29:22.165-05:00

It's a good thing we're almost at the end of NaBloPoMo 'cause today I've got nothin'. At this moment I really just want to crawl into bed and stay there for a week and sleep. I might get up in there somewhere for a glass of water or a little snack but mostly I just want to sleep.In lieu of an absorbing post I give you a cute cats picture. I'm going to bed.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-22946954593394144452007-11-26T20:07:00.001-05:002007-11-26T20:14:06.430-05:00

The first one is done. I will cast on the next right away. Otherwise I might succumb to second sock syndrome. Next time I might do two at once.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-80432342401146055002007-11-25T16:57:00.000-05:002007-11-25T17:20:18.265-05:00

I can report that the chocolate cake was excellent. Light and moist with just enough ganache.Here is the driveway leading up to my folks' place. The pine trees were planted more than 30 years ago. All of us kids were pressed into service. We grumbled about it but look at them now, a beautiful forest that we helped create.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-32419745197770287292007-11-24T09:23:00.000-05:002007-11-24T09:47:51.248-05:00

I'm getting ready to go to Thanksgiving #2. I don't have to bring much, just my jammies and my toothbrush and the desserts. The cheesecake is still in its springform so it isn't ready for its closeup but the chocolate cake is all dressed up and ready to go.I've never made this recipe before so I don't know how it tastes but it really smells like chocolate cake. You know that smell. One whiff

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-26258914216412262522007-11-23T20:19:00.000-05:002007-11-25T20:58:21.386-05:00

I bought myself a book today. Don't look at me that way. I know I'm supposed to leave the buying of books to others at this time of year but it's not like they don't have options. My Amazon list has more than enough to go around. Besides I wanted it NOW. I suspect it comes from watching Project Runway. Yes, I do watch a reality show though I could do with less drama. I really just want to

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-50081007964744222302007-11-22T15:21:00.000-05:002007-11-22T15:23:43.091-05:00

This is going to be short and sweet. I am at work today-yes, we are open 365 days a year. I'm here today and the other manager will be here on Christmas. It's actually kind of nice. We have a reduced schedule and it's very mellow.Anyway, have a very happy Thanksgiving. Eat lots and laugh even more.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-80449229731901501812007-11-21T19:45:00.000-05:002007-11-21T20:31:09.327-05:00

Tomorrow I am going to the first of my two Thanksgivings. I'm bringing a walnut mocha torte. It sounds complicated but it's really very simple, it just requires some attention to detail.The cake has only 5 ingredients.5 eggs, separated120 grams of sugar80 grams of ground (grated) walnuts1 heaping tablespoon finely ground coffee1 heaping tablespoon flourPreheat the oven to 350 or 325 if you have

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-86170118308438370372007-11-20T21:12:00.000-05:002007-11-20T21:46:34.898-05:00

What is it about holidays that makes people dumb? They go to the store to buy a cart full of items for the holiday and instead of proceeding through the store with speed and efficiency, they linger, usually in a bottle neck. They wander about pushing their enormous carts with vacant or befuddled looks on their faces. They scan the shelves as if searching for the Holy Grail. They harass the

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-49249765702201112772007-11-19T19:47:00.000-05:002007-11-19T19:57:41.058-05:00

My sister and her family have apparently offended the gods of traffic. Recently her younger son was hit by a car. It's okay, he was not badly hurt, just had an big bump on his head and an acute case of embarrassment. Then this week her husband got in a car accident which has put paid to the newer car. Below is her version of events. I have called her husband B and his passenger L.They were

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-74763107904123419582007-11-18T20:08:00.000-05:002007-11-18T20:23:38.482-05:00

One of my favorite things about the holidays is that I get to do a whole bunch of baking. By the time Christmas rolls around my home is redolent of cinnamon, coffee, chocolate and sugar. Every year I try to make different recipes though I do keep a few favorites on the list. Today I decided to get in a little practice before the main event. I give you...Walnut Butter CookiesIt's an incredibly

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-27678720632636952302007-11-17T10:29:00.000-05:002007-11-17T10:46:54.169-05:00

I realized this morning that I failed to blog yesterday. I was wiped out when I got home. Nothing like an emotional day on top of too little sleep to leave you really drained. It was great to see everyone though. And so many people came, both to the wake on Thursday and the funeral on Friday. It was a Catholic mass, done to comfort Ed's family who are all Catholic. Ed himself didn't care

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-73799539661600922672007-11-15T22:06:00.001-05:002007-11-15T22:26:25.626-05:00

I'm not feeling very eloquent this evening so here is some fall foliage for your viewing pleasure.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-14134675710327915062007-11-14T23:23:00.000-05:002007-11-14T23:42:32.420-05:00

My cousin Beth got married in 1981 when I was in fifth grade. I was a flower girl in the wedding. At the time I was really annoyed because the wedding was the same weekend as my class trip to Washington DC and that meant I wasn't going to be able to go with all my friends. In the end, it turned out okay. I had a pretty good time at the wedding. Her new husband Ed was a bonus. I liked him

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-9885858949680215832007-11-13T21:25:00.000-05:002007-11-13T21:49:50.508-05:00

It's that time of year again kids. The stores have brought out their Xmas ornaments and battered menorahs. Any minute now they're going to blare Xmas music through the loud speakers. (At my last job we had a Xmas mix cd that had a version of Ave Maria to slit your wrists to.) In Union Square there is a crew putting up the cheerful red and white striped tents that will become a shopping

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-83928754775171136062007-11-12T21:38:00.000-05:002007-11-12T21:59:37.808-05:00

I know you've been consumed with curiosity about the state of our boiler. The sad news is that it is in need of parts. We all know how that goes. They are not in stock. They must be ordered. You need them quickly? There's always second day air but that'll cost ya. It is clear that my offering was too little too late. But it's okay, I have wine and cheese so the day was not a total mess.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-23478455266867110812007-11-11T22:14:00.000-05:002007-11-11T22:46:38.088-05:00

It's time for an offering to the gods. This became painfully apparent today when the boiler at my job malfunctioned. No ignition. 1 location out. That's all it had to say for itself when it quit working this morning and left us hoping the trapped heat would last and dragging out the space heaters when it didn't. This is following two server crashes in one week. Obviously some god somewhere

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-40420894025232910572007-11-10T21:59:00.000-05:002007-11-10T22:04:32.738-05:00

just before the elevator doors closed.Maybe I should just show my roommate my tits.And outside the dressing room.I'd have had sex anyway...

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-29476614601436233142007-11-09T21:22:00.000-05:002007-11-09T22:08:19.266-05:00

I find I feel at a slight disadvantage in this daily blogging thing. Some of my fellow NaBloPoMomers have children. Children are inherently funny. As is parenthood. Don't get me wrong, I'm quite happy with the current state of affairs. It's one of the reasons I love Worst. Mama. Ever., it validates all my life choices. But it does mean I have less humorous blog fodder. My co-workers are

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-37280064337962186882007-11-08T19:12:00.000-05:002007-11-08T20:26:05.921-05:00

If you know a knitter you may know that knitters buy yarn the way Imelda Marcos buys shoes. In other words, need doesn't really enter into it. Unless you're talking about the kind of need that leads people to brave the freezing cold at 2 am for a pint of Ben and Jerry's.Last month I joined the throng at the Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck. I was pretty restrained in my purchases. What?

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-56909912326823587002007-11-07T20:54:00.000-05:002007-11-07T21:12:35.533-05:00

In the New York Times they recently ran an article about people stealing recycling off the street. Now you might think that the city wouldn't care if there was less recycling to deal with, but it turns out that they make some revenue off the stuff. And if the city can make money so can someone else. I usually don't put my recycling in the building's bin but bring it to the curb myself. The

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-82560401537739012422007-11-06T20:46:00.000-05:002007-11-06T20:53:54.702-05:00

Recently, when I was at the wine store perusing the reds, there were two women near me having a friendly dispute. One said to the other, "I'm going to do a survey". Then she turned to me.Woman: Are you married?Me: No. Are you taking a poll of married people?Woman: Okay, say you saw an actor you really loved and you just stepped right up and kissed him. Would your husband be upset?Not to

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-56791912637415929802007-11-05T22:33:00.001-05:002007-11-05T22:46:25.055-05:00

As some of you know, I've been having trouble with my right wrist. Initially I had a weird crawly sensation in the top of my hand whenever I moved my index or middle finger up and down and I would get a feeling of heat if I used the computer for too long. As time has gone on, these symptoms have been replaced by weakness and pain if I try to rest weight on my hand when the wrist is fully flexed

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-82149055343191777042007-11-04T22:32:00.000-05:002007-11-04T22:50:25.255-05:00

I know I promised scintillating posts and I haven't delivered. You'll have to forgive me, the last few days have been irritating. And no, you do not want to know why they were irritating, that would send you screaming into the night. Suffice it to say that there are several people on my LIST. You know that list. We all have one. Everyone on the list needs at the very least a serious talking

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-78928642226494367972007-11-03T21:43:00.000-04:002007-11-03T22:12:38.399-04:00

Have you read Survival of the Sickest by Dr. Sharon Moalem? No? Go right now to the bookstore or better yet the library (I love the library, I'd be a lot poorer in both money and space without it.) and pick it up.The first part is all about how disease can be helpful in certain circumstances. The latter part is about genetics. There was all sorts of stuff I didn't know about genes jumping and

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-27447291909091280532007-11-02T15:51:00.000-04:002007-11-02T20:29:45.331-04:00

I went on a serious shopping trip to the Fairway today. I loaded up on all sorts of staples. I have hopes of actually cooking dinner and lunch for myself. We'll see how it goes.I had most of the stuff delivered but I took the perishables home, in this new addition to the household.Isn't it neat? It's insulated and lined with foil to keep the cold in. I haven't tested it with ice cream yet

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-432865822052348902007-11-01T11:18:00.000-04:002007-11-01T11:28:27.503-04:00

Last night as I was getting on the subway a family was getting off. The two little boys were dressed as pirates, each armed with a plastic cutlass. They were dragging their feet a bit as their mother tried to hurry them along. Then, as they were reaching the door one of the boys thrust his cutlass at the man sitting by there. The mother yelled, "Damien!" and hustled him off the train.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-43754377472665477572007-10-31T08:23:00.000-04:002007-10-31T08:38:43.492-04:00

My cousin Beth and her two daughters are going out this weekend to walk with PanCan, the Pancreatic Action Network, to raise funds for the fight against pancreatic cancer. They are hoping to raise $500 between them. I thought I would help out in their fund raising efforts.If you would like to donate to their team go here. Their team is the Lovely Lillo Ladies. Thank you.I am very glad that

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-69588438975265846422007-10-27T20:22:00.000-04:002007-10-27T20:23:23.478-04:00

from the apartment below mine. They have some loud fights.Woman to man:You couldn't make love your way out of a paper bag.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-13624797019411842822007-10-14T20:34:00.000-04:002007-10-31T08:47:33.056-04:00

Fall is really here now. The days are getting crisp and cool and apples have come back to the farmer's market. I love apples. Love love love love love apples. One of my favorite varieties is red delicious though you have to get them at the right time. They have to be just on the edge of ripeness when they're still really crisp. After that they get mealy and no one wants that. This weekend I

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-45949492339915082502007-10-10T11:39:00.001-04:002007-10-10T11:48:09.794-04:00

Following Lady Epiphany's lead I have joined NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month). It will be a challenge to post every day. But I will have incentive: the need to not fall flat in front of the whole wide web. I can be self motivated but it's much more effective to have the expectations of others, to have an audience.So join up and then repeat after me: I will post every day and every post

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-28851542341978951622007-10-08T10:28:00.000-04:002007-10-10T11:49:38.897-04:00

This past Saturday 4 friends and I went on a little walking tour of Brooklyn, eating as we went. We started in DUMBO (district under Manhattan bridge overpass) at Almondine bakery for croissants, pretzel bread, and baguettes. We then strolled across the street to Jacques Torres' chocolate shop. In spite of the extra warm weather some of us got hot chocolate. The other two got ice cream

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-90076470610762816142007-09-24T11:32:00.000-04:002007-09-24T12:21:07.264-04:00

I've sat down just about every day this week with the intention of posting to this blog. But all that happens is that I stare for a while at the empty frame and then log out having found nothing to write. I have written in my journal but that's a whole other thing and you certainly shouldn't be subjected to it. This morning, however, I have found something to write about. I was inspired by

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-27822581156069446612007-09-14T11:15:00.000-04:002007-09-14T11:34:37.136-04:00

First of all, I would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support. As you can imagine, I haven't felt much like blogging.Ed and Beth have spent some time doing fun things like go-cart racing and skydiving. These are not exactly Beth's cup of tea but I think she'd happily sit and watch paint dry as long as they could do it together. But now the situation has deteriorated. They

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-58221708138304758402007-09-10T08:14:00.001-04:002007-09-10T09:18:39.061-04:00

I had a post all planned for today. It was all about food. I had pictures lined up of purple beans and pancakes and dumplings. I was going to warn you not to read on an empty stomach.But things have changed since yesterday. This morning I learned that my cousin's husband, Ed, has pancreatic cancer. And it is in stage four having spread to his liver. A week ago he had a stomach ache and now

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-26165232773982474082007-08-26T19:54:00.000-04:002007-08-27T09:42:50.903-04:00

A friend of mine works at a gourmet grocery store. Recently they were all given a sample of a new product, Dark Cherries in Merlot. She called me up and told me I had to try them and then I had to figure out a way to duplicate them. Not one to shrink from a culinary challenge I have taken a stab at it. When I tasted them I decided there was vanilla, cinnamon and something else. It gave the

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-30943996871608637752007-08-26T15:51:00.001-04:002007-08-26T19:53:02.634-04:00

Remember when I was going on about preserving summer in a jar? Well I've done some work on that. Last week I made some jam. Here it is, bubbling away.Caramel Peach Jam with Anise and VanillaThis week I made some tomato sauce. I used two Marcella Hazan recipes. One is just tomatoes simmered with a halved onion and butter. The second has:Purple carrots! But they're not purple all the way

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-33101209521312498562007-08-18T11:12:00.000-04:002007-08-18T11:24:46.302-04:00

If you've been over at Lisa's you know that the tank top is a success. I admit, I had my worries about the size since I couldn't try it on myself. Nick, however, never wavered in his belief. See how serene, almost Buddha-like, he is. No thoughts of sagging or poor fit enter his mind. I can only kneel at the feet of the master and absorb the wisdom.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25205682.post-22091007693570189092007-08-16T10:05:00.000-04:002007-08-16T10:44:03.643-04:00

When you were a little kid you might have been afraid of the bogey man in the closet or the monster under the bed. Or maybe you were afraid of the dark, or of the thing lying in the deep end of the pool. We think that when we grow up the monsters will go away but they don't, they just change shape and get new names. The monster under the bed becomes bankruptcy, the bogey man becomes cancer.

The Plaid Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043699886395822626noreply@blogger.com3