Heirloom Beads

I made my first batch of vanilla-scented salt beads! They are a peachy-orange in color. I think I have to try and make some red, yellow and brown to go for a retro look. I don't know how long they take to dry, as the recipe did not specify. So that means they will not be done in time for Steph's birthday present. I will try to scent the brown ones with coffee and cocoa powder, which will be yummy yummy if it works; I had some plaster in college not cure due to cocoa powder.

In other news I've been way too lazy today, the kitchen needs to be cleaned up big-time after all this beading and home-fries. So I am off to drink more water and clean clean clean!

Dreams and Relics

I slept from 4AM to 2:00pm today. I had an epic 3-part dream...one involving camping or Vermont, some rustic yard setting. Then I was being chased through an "artsy" city with a large body of water running though it. By a flying demon abominable snowman evil creature. But I could fly too, and it was as though being over the water was more unsafe, no where to hide in the open space. It was easier to hide behind/in buildings. Then later we discovered he couldn't really see me--he could only recognize me by my eyes, my open eyes. I have no idea why he was chasing me, or what would happen if I was caught.

The second part, I was more of a "refugee." There was a forest-covered small mountain within a stone wall...there was a building with an elevator...I was not the only one on the run, I was with other people being chased, we were hiding from a group of people. Some of us were in danger but other weren't, and they were helping us. I can't remember the reason for the discrimination. I was able to successfully hide in a ditch by covering myself with dirt and mulch and leaves. The bad people had left the enclosed area and I ended up safe. When I was trying to run and hide, I felt so sluggish like I physically couldn't get there and do it. I've felt like that before in my bad waitressing nightmares. I just can't make my body move to get to the table fast enough, even though the consequences are huge.

What do you make of this?

My mom gave me a stack of volumes of The Workbasket from 1955-1956ish, I looked on Ebay and determined that they are not worth anything really...but then I opened one and was instantly inspired. Retro patterns, information on how to make things...valuable lost information. Also funny things like an advertisement for "Fat Girl Diets." There was an article on how to make scented salt beads...which I think is just so cool!!! New project that does not involve me inhaling silica particles!!!

12 Days Left!

That's right, we've got 12 days left until it's GARLIC NAAN TIME!!! Can't wait!

Tonight I am going bowling with some of my friends. It should be a good time--we were going to have ladies night at the casino, but cancelled it due to lack of funds.

I am currently driving my BF around while his truck is being worked on. I am using a lot more gas than usual, but it's been nice seeing him every day. I only used to see him a couple days a week when we were first dating, and for a long while after that. Just Sunday's and Wednesday nights.

I've actually been throwing some pots...just to have quickly made things that will balance out the firings for the tiles. I am going to try using some alternative fabric for the slab roller, and I will dry out some of the brown clay before I roll them...to cut down on dust and warping.

I'm getting better at the wheel--slightly. I am even going to try changing the direction to see if I do better counterclockwise.

Coriander?

Hmm, the weekend has ended. I am so out of it with days blurring together and all. But it really is Monday. I am currently making more GF banana bread--sans chocolate chips this time, as they sunk the last one. I also put the 1t of ground coriander in this time, I am very intrigued as to how this will taste.

I made some rice noodles last night for dinner, they have to cook a lot longer than the directions say on the package. They were much better today for lunch after I microwaved them well with LOTS of watery sauce.

I have a job "interview" kinda-thing tomorrow, the job involves fine olive oils. I hope that I can get a few decent-paying gigs out of this. I was hoping to get a check in the mail today, but alas it was not there when I got home. I did get a Paypal payment which I had thought was never going to happen...but it came through. Every little bit helps. Maybe one day I will actually get a credit card machine.

Snowstorm!

It actually snowed six inches = snowshoeing tomorrow! Yay! Last night my GF meatloaf turned into something more like Shepard's pie; Johnny really liked it, so I have to remember that will be a good meal to make for him in the future. In other news I had a good gluten-free day: eggs and homefries at the diner, soup and cornbread for lunch, and a perfect little avocado grilled cheese for dinner with chocolate chip banana bread for snacks and desserts! So far I decided that soup and GF bread is the most easy and satisfying meals so far on this diet. The Udi's GF bread is supposedly the best, but very pricey! Putting it in the freezer definitely shrunk it even smaller than it already was, but I made the CUTEST grilled cheese of my life so far. And I didn't even burn it (8 out of 10 grilled cheeses I burn)! Very tiny, it makes a good addition to soup, but you'd have to eat two on their own with chips etc to make it a filling meal.

I have learned that chocolate chips sink to the bottom of the GF banana bread, I am glad I didn't make 2 loaves. Next time it will be cranberries anyways, and I will drop a few on the top of the batter and hope the float. Tomorrow I will try and make a vegetarian chili with the leftover Boxed Goods "Reds" as the sub for meat. It was the last meal I had before I came down with that cold, so I haven't wanted to eat the rest of them with veggies.

I didn't have to work tonight, which really sucks because I need the cash. I am actually tired, so I am gonna get in bed and watch Firefly and fall asleep. Yes, I am a nerd.

GF Day #4

Wow, so I actually decided that I was sick enough to see a doctor. Hoping for antibiotics, but alas, they told me to just go buy some Zyrtec. BOO. But anyways I should be picking up within the next couple days. Damn shopping carts and their cooties.

The vegetarian split-pea soup was just as good today, I found some GF crackers but they are really weird. I am going to make some GF bread in my bread machine tonight. I think if I use the electric knife(usually for turkeys) it will cut decent for sandwiches. Because grilled cheese is a staple in my poor-girl diet. Then I am going to find my seed sprouting kit and sprout some alfalfa--which actually is fab in grilled cheese. And if you want to get fancy: tomato, alfalfa and cream cheese makes a good sandwich too. Add raw chopped onions at your peril.

My friend Amy brought up a buried memory today--my evil ex once told me that I smelled like garlic "most of the time". Which is terrible, did others not notice? But maybe he had super-sniffing abilities and could just pick it up like a basset hound? Jerks.

I applied for two jobs today, and I have another in the works. It's all part-time and piecemeal--but I need the cash. So the hard part is over, all I have to do is wait! Well, got to really work on my website--but first the bread goes in the oven!

Split-Pea Soup

I am sick as a dog. Terrible headache and swollen glands, etc. Luckily I have been avoiding dairy(which unfortunately cuts down my GF options) and I am not really stuffed up. Even luckier I don't have to work until I clean a couple hours tomorrow--which I'm hoping may even be Thursday if I feel worse.

So the GF diet was not hard until today, when all I want is salty crackers and soup. So I am making my GF cornbread, and researching split-pea soup recipes. My real-estate agent found me a gorgeous apartment with a full basement in Cheshire. It would probably be perfect, but I don't have the down-payment yet. :(

Such a beautiful day today and I spent most of it in the basement watching movies. At least I was not able to take a nap--which at this point is good because I will be able to sleep at night.

Gluten-Free Vegetarian for 30 Days.

Day 1 (is not over yet) But I went shopping and lots of different stores and spent lots of money on GF food. Thank God for Ocean State Job Lot, they have the Bob's Red Mill GF mixes. The GF english muffins are really weird so far--probably would have been better if I hadn't put gross freezer-burned butter on the one I had this morning. Cereal is the easiest thing, just add milk. I was stationed next to Boxed Goods at the Made in CT Fair; they have the most amazing rice mixes. Tonight I made a little bit of the Reds and mixed it with frozen peas and seasonings--pretty awesome! Just 1/2 dry cup of Reds made two decent servings when cooked. This mix is supposedly a good substitute for ground beef in chili--DEF going to try that sometime soon.

This is kind of like my "Friday night" as demos are not so good on M/W/Tu at most grocery stores. Lunch with Grandma tomorrow, then I am going to take a friend to a yoga class at night. I can't spend any more money, I just hope I survive the month.