The glories of food

All pictures (and gif) are from my good old time wasting website.  The internet is such a time suck.  I don't even want to know how many hours I've spent online, let alone on facebook.  I don't have the internet at home and I think I'm going to keep it that way.  I also don't have cable or satellite at home.  I have a tv and dvd player and I think that's sufficient.  I tend to get sucked into the internet and really bad television.  This is a preventative move on my part so I at least attempt to spend more time crafting, reading, and running.  I haven't run in over two weeks and it makes me sad.  Traveling and winter always derail me from running.  I'm not quite sure how to fix that.

This.  This is just.  Wow.

I don't even like hot dogs and this makes me want to eat hot dogs.

Best avocado ever.  And lets be honest.  Avocados are amazing.

I really would like to take the time to make these.  I really would.  Maybe my 30th birthday would warrant the time it would take.

Freaking adorable.  I want these in a tank swimming around looking awesome.

Beaver Mitts (Part Three)

The first two pieces of beaver mitten that you stitch together are the bottom piece and the palm piece.  Start at the edge where it's flat and sew to where the thumb starts, making sure that the corners meet up.  With this pattern you have to gather the beaver fur just a little bit.  I use two types of stitches, changing between them quite frequently.  The two stitches that I use are a basting stitch and a whip stitch.

Part one

Once you have the straight part all sewn together, use two needles and start on each side of the base of the thumb.  Work on one side for an inch or two then switch to the other side and sew for an inch or two, back and forth until you meet at the top.  This should keep the thumb from twisting up too much.  Ripping is the worst and I try to keep myself from doing it too often.

Part two

Skirt, argyle socks and boots

I love wearing these boots because inevitably someone always comments on their brightness.  It's always positive and it always brings a smile to my face.  I can't even remember every time that someone has said they love these boots.  It makes me feel good.  One of my favorites was a door man at the Hilton who referred to me as the pink boot girl even when I wasn't wearing them!

 

This scarf was a Christmas present from my neighbors last year.  I think it's my fanciest scarf.  I feel so pretty when I wear it and it's super soft and warm.  Everything that you want in a scarf.

Turning skins

Catching the animal is the first part of the battle.  Skinning, stretching, and turning is the next part.  I find it all enjoyable.  Part of that enjoyment is the I'm kind of a natural at skinning.  It feels good to do something you're good at, you know?  I haven't yet turned any skins.  I'm sure this winter I'll get a lot of practice at it though.  This here is a lynx that Greg turned.  If you wait too long to turn the hides then it's really difficult and sometime impossible without ripping the skin.  If this happens you  have to wet the hide and let it set for a few hours.

Lynx hide.  Off the stretcher.  This is my trapping partner.  He normally doesn't look this grumpy.

Lynx hide.  Unturned and off the stretcher.

You start at the behind and begin to fold and roll it forward towards the head.  It takes some working and time.  However you get to see start to see the pretty fur that you've worked so hard for.

Keep working it.

Eventually you get a skin that has all the fur outside.  The paws are kinda of tricky with a lynx because their feet are so dang big.  When you're getting close to the arm holes, you just stick the feet through and then keep turning.  Once the lynx is fully turned then you grab the paws and pull the rest of the leg through.  It's much easier than waiting till the lynx is fully turned and sticking your hand all up in it.  Sneaky, sneaky.

Avacation Part Five

 The last of the pictures off my phone from the trip.  Captions only folks.

Okay the last picture from the Crush night.  I swear.

I so wish they had these in big people sizes.

A woman has her priorities.  I celebrate everything with champagne and sparkling wine.  Everything.

We shopped a little bit too much.

This little beauty I bought for trapping.  I'm in love with it.

It was a clear beautiful day for flying home.

Kinley.  :D

Avacation Part Four

Here are a few shots of the full outfit for crush.  I ended up crashing at Shauntel's and took this in the morning when I came back to the hotel.  Classy!

I love love love these boots.

I tend to forget what a shopping fiend my Momma is.  She can wear me out and that lady is more than twice my age!  On one particular shopping trip we went to JoAnn fabric for some specific fabric needs.  We picked out what we needed and headed towards the fabric counter.  The charming lady that helped us was wheezing and sweating all over our fabric.  She claimed dizzy spells.  We suggested she take a day she mumbled something incoherent and kept on cutting.  At.  A.  Glacial.  Pace.  It was painful.  Also, she didn't fold the fabric she just piled it up and passed it over.  So we refolded it all.  Even with us refolding things it took about twenty minutes longer than necessary.  Afterward, a little something-something was in order.

Mom and I needed treats after a particularly stressful trip to JoAnn fabrics.

Nap time is a necessity when on vacation.

So is television time.

Free cookies and coffee are a bonus.  So is free fast internet.

Everyday the hotel brought out fresh, freaking hot cookies at noontime.  It was my downfall.  My pants started to get a little bit tight by the end of the trip.  However, that could have also be due to all of the delicious food that Momma treated me to.  I really am a spoiled little girl.  And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Avacation Part Three

On Tuesday night Crush held a wine dinner partnered with Owen Roe Winery.  When I found out the dinner was going on and I was going to be in town I emailed Shauntel immediately.  She called the restaurant immediately.  And we were immediately excited.  And for good reason.  Here was the menu:

Apéritif (served with Amuse-Bouche) paired with 2009 Corvidae Ravenna Riesling
Oysters on the half shell with dry vermouth granita paired with 2009 Corvidae Ravenna Riesling & Owen Roe Sauvignon Blanc
Golden & Red beet terrine with basil-oil and goat cheese crème fraîche paired with 2011 Owen Roe Sinister Hand
Espresso rubbed Dry Aged Prime Ribeye with tomato gratin and sautéed endive with blue cheese fondue paired with 2009 Owen Roe Cabernet Franc "Rosa Mystica" & 2010 Owen Roe Ex Umbris Syrah
and finally, for dessert, Stone fruit crème fraîche crêpes paired with 2007 Owen Roe Late Harvest Semillon "Parting Glass

The oysters.  Fantastic.

Beet terrine.  Very different, yet delicious.

This.  This was amazing.  So mouthwatering and amazing.

Fantastic.