2012 New Things: Granny Squares

In January, I created my yearly New Things List and on this list (for the second year!) was to learn how to crochet granny squares.  I'm a fair knitter, but never really got crocheting, even though it was supposed to be (and is) easier.  The goal?  To make one of those blankets like my grandma used to make.

When we went to Trinity Alps Resort, Jan taught a few of us 1) how to crochet and 2) how to make grannie squares.  I mentioned my resultant, still growing granny square in a previous post, which I'm going to take to 'small throw size.'  Then, I'll pick some colors and make an actual blanket---I can't wait to try out some of these cool patterns!

<<<--super proud

Emory fascinated-->>

by his mama's skill.

Love (unexpected)

I have never had a close encounter of the dachschund kind.  Bizzie stole my heart yesterday.  Alas, it's a universal case of the Mondays around here.  Still, there are these things: 

• Let's trash trashing. I'm tired of conversations regarding health constantly stemming from body bashing.  From lovely Sarah at yes and yes -- How to Broadcast Body Confidence.  Take a moment.  Read it.  It's so easy to say "ugh, [this]" and "SIGH [that]," but let's try coming at it from a different angle.  I am totally guilty of the body bash, so here -- I'd like to be more fit, but not because I actually think I look bad.  I look good.  I just really like that strong feeling when walking up a hill.
• I really want to make this salad. It's absolutely beautiful.
• I learned how to make grannie squares last week.  Well, I should say I have learned how to make grannie SQUARE -- I have not stopped adding to my first one.  It is huge.  It grows every night.  I am not sure what to do about that.  

 see?

April flashback: a niece visit!

In April, Miss Shaely came to stay with me for a weekend -- we had so much fun!  The weather was true San Francisco style: sunny, foggy, even drizzly, but my goodness, she didn't care.   Amazing really -- we went to the Children's Playground near Kezar and seriously?  I have never noticed how many children there are in SF.  Apparently, this city isn't just our [insert appropriate adjective here] generation's playground.  And that playground is FUN.

A perfect Sunday start.  You more or less have to have a kid with you to ride this carousel, which is awesome if you have a kid, but less so if you don't but really love carousels.  This carousel was built in 1914 and is stunning.  I am so glad that Shaely and I both were able to experience it -- we were equally pumped.  

The playground had tons of things to climb on (a must), a HUGE rope tower structure (a heart attack), zip lines (weee!) and lots of slides (even a concrete one, but tip: maybe bring clean cardboard?).  

 

My lovely Shae bay.

Magical (this is where we go)

I went to  magical Trinity Alps Resort this past weekend with magical people.  The weather was fickle but not bad and nothing sounds better than a river and rain.  Should the world come to an end, we can rebuild our community here; there are fish to catch, a bar on the water, a general store with espresso ice cream, and a ton of old timey photos so you don't forget how you got where you are.

I am running the Wharf to Wharf in a few weeks.  I haven't run... since last year's W2W.  I better get on that!  My motivation is two parted; I surprisingly loved the group vibe and encouragement last year AND we always go eat at Dharma's after.  YUM.  Friends and food and fun.  It's a total win.

I am trying to reduce my belongings by a third and it's fascinating.  I have lived in my apartment for nine years and it's stunning what I am finding in the little nooks and crannies *ie a mini bbq I have NEVER USED because I don't know now.  Really?  I have that in my apartment?   Awesomesauce. I have also discovered a plastic bag worth of hotel shampoo and lotions which is kinda odd and maybe wasteful and there must be somewhere I can donate those.

Today, a bbq with friends.  I think I might make caprese pops, the archrival to all that cake.  xo.

Friday Tidbits

• I rode my bike to work last week, 15 slightly hilly miles.  The above picture isn't the most flattering of me but dude; I'm pumped and it's pretty out and I'm on my new bike and maybe doing the chicken dance but who cares!  Derek is the best coworker ever and stayed with slower moving me -- I am still getting used to how fast this bike is and start to freak out around 22mph.  Time.  Just give me time.
• I lost $15 yesterday.  It fell out of my pocket.  I only hope that someone found it and was happy instead of it flying off the trail I was on into the Bay.  (My work is really close to the Bay, did you know?  Like 100ft. It's lovely, except when the bay smells like dead things).
• I have forbidden myself from opening sites like Rue La La or Haute Look.  Girl needs a break.  Also, in the interest of paring down, the closet concept is "no in, more out" so there's that. 
• I am selling all my CDs today.  This isn't as huge as it sounds.  Someone once told me I had an impressive CD collection...  for the nineties.  I'll probably get $10.  
• The other night, Matt and I were working late and both our brains were fried.  We are DONE, we exclaimed, and promptly went to see Avengers in 3-D.  Yes, Thor still makes me giggle. 
• I just found out that you can make Nutella cheesecake in a crockpot.  I'll let you know how that goes. 
• I did not buy stock in Facebook today.  Oh well.  But I have Nutella and a bike and am going camping next week.  I'm good. 

Back porch Spring

My back porch loves this Spring time weather.  Sunny days are numbered in the foggy sector of the city -- I'll take what I can get!

Let's hike this: Lost Coast.

And for less planning, more immediate fun (think, early June), I want to go here:  The Tourist Club.

Good weekend

Af and Courtney's wedding, May 5, 2012.

2012 New Things: Pleasanton Ridge

April?  Well, April was a month of blog silence.  Ah well. Perhaps in the next few weeks, I will do some April flashbacks of my favorite moments, because there were many.  

Last Sunday, Mish, Amy, and I hiked along the Pleasanton Ridge, one of my 2012 New Things.  Yeah, I know.  I grew up in the area, and had NEVER done this which is shocking and weird and I find it funny, especially given my line of work.  2012 is the year I hike the ridge -- and I will be going back.  It was so pretty!  It was so STEEP.  There were cows that would not get out of our way so we just walked around them and they lazily stared at us! Next time, I want to hike even farther, and maybe start in the morning instead of 2 pm when it's hot as all get out.  Yay ridge!

And thus recommences blogging.

Out with the old (yoga mat)

I am trying to clean and re-stickify my Jade yoga mat, and during my internet search for tips, I stumbled across a lot of suggestions for repurposing your old, gross mat rather than just tossing it.  The Jade site has a good list, and here are a few of my favorites:

1. Place under an area rug for no-slip gripping.
2. Drop off your old mat at an animal rescue group. Most of these places need soft, durable mats, rugs, towels, & blankets to line crates.
3. Line kitchen shelves to prevent glasses from slipping and scratching.
4. Cut the mat into squares and use them as "bases" while playing baseball with the kids. Easy to carry and easy to clean!
5. Use to kneel on in the garden to protect your knees!
6. Use as kitchen drawer liners..
7. Use as grip pads to open jars.
8. Cut to size and use as foot pads for the bottom of furniture that is on a wood or ceramic floor. Glue on pieces with a non-toxic adhesive.
9. Cut and put down in front of the kitty litter box to stop the litter.
10. Makes a great liner under house plants, you can even cut it to fit each plant

image source: Ultimate Reuse Challenge

Yep.

It's Friday.

Chair(REvision)

This is what I did on Sunday night while watching Once Upon a Time.

Carpool at sunset

The days are getting longer, and it's lovely.   The sun is still setting as we drive home across the Golden Gate Bridge.  

My Darling Dear

From this funny site.

Quandry: The Carrot (aged)

I don't like it when people tell me I am too old for something.  I rarely believe it's true, especially when we are discussing an activity like rollerskating or a certain favorite tshirt that says "QD Mufflers" on it.  However, this theory of mine does not apply to food and it's a double standard I will act quickly on.  For instance, if I even think that milk has been in the fridge to long, if the thought even crosses my mind, I have to get rid of it.  Same with produce. Gone. Later broccoli. Sorry, slightly mealy apple.  As a result, I tend to buy little and often.  Anyway.  Old. 

Which brings us to today.  I'm up in the air about carrots-- when are they too old?  Where is that line?  Is it when they are dried out?  Is it when they start to shrivel?  Is it when the ones in the bottom of the bag get slimy?  Case in point:

It's dry.  There are creases.  I ate one of this carrot's friends, begrudgingly, and there was some bitter (but that may have been the inevitable "one bad carrot").  Is this carrot too old to eat?

Anna says no.

Tribute: Hunger Games.

Moment.

Just Dance with my nieces.  I am very focused and perhaps slightly concerned.  Thank you, sister, for snapping a photo of this finery.  

Brentwood, California.

(this post could also be titled "Update your blog so I don't have to stare at the damn frittata.  Everydayyyyy Friiitattta:  A Response")

2012 New Things: Make a Frittata

Frittatas intimidate me.  I have always known they are inherently easy, but for some reason they seemed too complicated to figure out and the idea of putting a pan from the stove INTO THE OVEN blew my mind.  I mean, can you do that?  (you can.  as long as it's oven-safe, duh.)

Starting 2012 simply, I made a frittata.  I am fond of Mark Bittman's recipes and he has a "more veggie, less egg" take on frittatas.  Loaded up on asparagus, leeks, peas and spinach, the frittata came out very green.  Green is good. 

yum.

Keep It Going: 2012 New Things List

My 2011 Bucket List has, thus far, been my most favorite list I have ever made.  Throughout the year, the list reminded me of things I wanted to try and, as a result, I backpacked to Sykes Hot Springs and the Desolation Wilderness, went to the Legion of Honor, made awesome paella and failed mince meat pie, canoed with my family, went snowshoeing and took a tap dancing class.   The spirit of trying new things lead me to ride my bike 27 miles, build a counter on my backporch, and meet up with friends more than staying in.  In general, I definitely learned that saying yes is way more fun than saying no.  

And so, I'm going to continue this idea, this mantra into 2012 and creating a "new things" list (apparently 'bucket list' is morbid to some).   Here we go!

2012 New Things

1. Visit Angel Island
2.  Make a frittata.
3. Learn to crochet an afghan.
4. Learn Prelude in C by Bach
5. Go to a meditation session
6. Go lazy inner tubing on a river
7. Watch the Godfather
8. Read Moby Dick
9. Visit Mono Lake
10. Hike to the Tourist Club
11. Backpack the Lost Coast
12. Ride a horse
13. Make tiramisu 
14. Publish in a scientific journal
15. Eat raw foods for a week
16. Have an epic crafting party
17. Take a paddleboat out on Stow Lake
18. Visit the Pleasanton Ridge
19. Partake in a fancy tea
20. See a Great Lake

Yes is more fun than No!

Wolf (never cry)

Journey.  He wandered into California last week, has a webpage and is a young bachelor without buddy or mate.   You won't find him on match.com but he may be checking out your herd.  As you would expect, animal enthusiasts are yelling about shooting wolves and ranchers are worried about their livestock.   Unless this wolf gets all immaculate conceptiony, I'm thinking he's just neat. 

If you feel like reading about saving the wolves, check out the Defenders of Wildlife site.

If you want to read more about the history of wolf issues, check out The Wolf That Changed America (PBS).

While looking for the above links, and sadly searching"kill the wolves" in an attempt to find some anti-wolf material, I came across some terrible, glorifying blogs about hunting wolves and different ways of trapping and shooting them. Ugh. So, here's a quote from Jack London's White Fang, which I shall now go read in its entirety to cleanse my soul. 

Much of the Wild had been lost, so that to [other dogs] the Wild was the unknown, the terrible, the ever menacing and ever warring. But to him, in appearance and action and impulse, still clung the Wild. He symbolized it, was its personification; so that when they showed their teeth to him they were defending themselves against the powers of destruction that lurked in the shadows of the forest and in the dark beyond the camp-fire.

kayaking in Marin

Saturday, I had to get out of the house.  Too much sleep caused by a cold, too much television, too much being in a small space.  So, we went kayaking up in Marin with Anna and Chris.  It was a wee jaunt to the bay and back from San Rafael.  Beautiful, crisp day (but,seriously, rain, where are YOU.)

 off the prow (bow?) of Anna's Kayak.  That's China Camp State Park on the right.

 Steve and I.  This is very much the same position we were in when the tour guide dropped Steve's camera into Monterey Bay, so we were nervous, especially since Anna was using her phone.

I was using Anna's kayak and felt really comfy and sturdy.  On the other hand, Steve was using a really really sensitive kayak that would probably become unbalanced and tip if you coughed. 

Perfect.

If a jolly airedale in a field doesn't make you smile, nothing will.  I am home from work, nursing a cold, and this literally made me gasp with joy. Happy Friday.