one down...

One project is done.

 I feel like I've still got a million more to go.

I don't know why I get so optimistic around this time of year.

Knit a sweater for my husband? Sure! Slippers for all my kids? No problem! Socks for my sister-in-law? Yup! Hats for all my neices and nephews? Why not! A gift swap for 18 people? Sign me up! An ornament swap for 13? Great idea!

Next year, would somebody please slap some sense into me?

100

Wow... I just realized this is post number 100. It only took me almost two years to get there...

I feel like I should do something to celebrate.

Stay tuned. If I manage to actually accomplish something in between dropping people off and picking them up and taking kids to the hospital and hanging out with the 4 year old and keeping the house from imploding under its accumulation of junk and making sure that there's enough clean clothes for everyone and feeding everyone food that is nutritious and healthy and hounding kids to get their homework done and following through on some commitments that I optimistically made... well... there might be a celebration of some sort coming up.

Or you could send me more chocolate.

Enchilada lasagna casserole thingy

This was so yummy, I could've almost eaten the whole panful. Well, I would've been happy to eat the leftovers for a whole week, anyhow.

1-2 pkg small corn tortillas
1 jar salsa
1 tsp olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium zucchini, diced
1 large carrot, diced
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp each dried oregano and cumin
1 can refried beans
2-3 cups grated cheese (cheddar or monterey jack are nice)
2 cups cottage cheese
4 green onions, sliced

Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook onions, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Add garlic, zucchini and carrot; cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes. Stir in chili powder, oregano and cumin; then mix in the refried beans.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large casserole dish, spread approx 1/2 cup salsa, then put down a layer of corn tortillas, cutting to fit if necessary. Spread with half of the refried beans/veggie mixture. Add another layer of tortillas. Spread with cottage cheese, green onions, and a handful of grated cheese. Put on another layer of tortillas, and spread with the rest of the bean mixture. Then add another layer of tortillas, and cover with a generous layer of salsa. Top with the rest of the cheese.

Bake for 40 - 50 minutes, till very bubbly and browned on top.

This recipe was adapted from Anne Lindsay's Bean and Veggie Burritos in her Lighthearted Everyday Cookbook; and inspired by the Pioneer Woman's White Chicken Enchiladas.

nope

This is not my newest, favouritest chocolate in the whole wide world.

It is not on sale for 50% off at my grocery store.

I did not buy two of them today.











I especially, most emphatically, did not eat a whole one this afternoon.

oy vey.

It never rains but it pours. Isn't that what they say? And if it hadn't been for all the rain we've had recently...





Well, I suppose if it hadn't been for the rain, we wouldn't have known about the problem... yet.

Whatever the stuff is that was used to seal the hole where the main water line comes into the house had deteriorated.


And the heavy rains we've had means that the water table has risen high enough that it's been pouring into the wall.



Fun.



But I'm so thankful that the problem showed up while the room was mostly empty. This used to be my sewing room. If all my fabric was still piled up against that wall, it might have taken months to notice it.

Aunty Ollie $100 Gift Card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Aunty Ollie $100 Gift Card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Such cute clothes here... check it out, and cross your fingers for me, I'd love to shop for Ellie here!!!

advent matchboxes, and the best meal I've made in a while

I covered twenty-four matchboxes with paper, painted them, and put little birdie inchies on each one.

Then I made  twenty-four little quilty bits, each with a button and a birdie charm stitched on.

And I wrote out my verse in little tiny letters... twenty-four times. Oh, were my fingers sore!!!

Then I put them all into a box and sent them off to Texas, where they'll get divided up between all twenty-four of us who participated, and we'll all end up with a set of matchboxes for our advent count-down.

I can't wait to see what the rest of them look like!

On another note, if you want to make the yummiest, most comforting food in the whole world, I strongly suggest that you head over to La Fuji Mama's blog and copy out the recipe for Niku-Jaga that she has posted there.

 

I served it with a side of brown rice and steamed carrots, and couldn't stop eating it. The recipe says it serves 4... that's generous. All 6 of us ate it for dinner, and then I had two more bowlfuls as an evening "snack", and two of us get some for lunch today as well. I'm totally adding this to my list of fall-back recipes!

Done!

I'm in love! And I'm warm too! 

Keeping warm (soon)

At the last Pride & Prejudice rehearsal (wait! I didn't tell you I'm acting in P&P??? YES!!! I'm so excited! It's my favourite story in the whole world!) I was so cold I could hardly talk - not a great situation to be in when you're acting! So I was very motivated to finish up the shrug that I'm test-knitting for Kristen at Knitting Kninja.

So here's the main body, all done and blocking. All that remains is for the rest of the yarn to arrive in the post (hopefully today!), and then I can stitch up the arms and start the ribbing around the neck opening part. I can hardly wait to wear it!