Cemetery Wanderings

Saturday we rambled around Greenwood Cemetery.

We visited Grandpa's grave. He would have been 91 on Tuesday.

Then we explored some very cool and some very old headstones and statuary.

So peaceful. And somehow calming.

Valentine Swap

I know I'm late.

I participated in the Oh Strumpets Valentine Swap again this year. It's a fun way to meet someone, discover a new blog and craft something you maybe wouldn't normally. My swap buddy was Rachel from Australia. Here's her blog. She gave me lots of great ideas---she has a variety of likes and interests. I was racking my brain about what to make her when I glanced up at the wall in my living room.

Rachel told me she liked deer. I could make her a wall hanging like mine.

This is Rachel's. She told me she loves it!

I also crocheted her a sweet little heart, added some candy hearts and a "grow" your own Valentine bouquet.

And this is what Rachel sent me! She knows I LOVE crochet and owls. It was so fun getting gifts from another country! 

Check out pics of other swappers gifts on the Oh Strumpet's craft flickr group.

3-2-1 CAKE

If you're like me you'll be running straight for the kitchen after you read this.

The other day I came across this EASY way to satisfy your sweet tooth with very little effort and very few calories. I'm not exactly sure HOW few calories---I could probably figure it out, I just don't want my brain to have to work too hard.

Here's what you do:

Take a small ramekin or microwave safe mug. Measure 3 Tablespoons dry cake mix. Any flavor.

Add 2 Tablespoons water. Mix well with a fork.

Put it in the microwave for 1 minute. Instant cake!!! And YUMMY! No oil. No eggs. A little bit of sweet anytime you want.

Top with fresh fruit, ice cream, whipped cream, or nothing!

As soon as I read the recipe I hightailed it to the kitchen because I had a half used cake mix in the back of the cupboard. The original recipe tells you to mix two cake mixes and that one has to be an Angel Food cake. I didn't have Angel Food cake. I think it turned out just fine without. Anyone know what difference Angel Food cake would make? Anyway, as long as you keep your cake mix in an airtight container you'll be set for months of quick sweets. 

I will admit that I tried it out first. It was so delicious I wanted to blog about it instantly, so I went back in and made another so I could take pics. The photos didn't turn out that great. I was going to wait until I had better pictures, but I'm just too excited about it not to share. 

We'll be trying chocolate fudge cake next and adding a few chocolate chips.

Chia Herbs Week 3 (give or take a few days)

Good news! They're not DEAD! This part has been easy---keep a reserve of water for the chia sponge to absorb. I'll admit I've cheated a little bit on this easy step. I put the pots minus their saucers into a pie tin and filled that sucker up with water. Then I don't have to water every other day or so. Just once a week.

From here on out the care gets more intense. Now that these little plants have leaves they require 6 hours of direct South facing sun. My kitchen window doesn't face South. (Plus the pie tin doesn't fit in the sill).

Plus they need plant food. I don't know what plants eat. Pizza?

Has anyone ever grown cilantro? Is this craziness normal? On top of all that, when these baby plants really start to grow I have to transplant them. I don't have a PhD so I doubt I will be very good at performing such a delicate operation.

All joking aside, so far this experiment is working out. And I think these little guys are really looking forward to getting off the top of the fridge.

Chia Herbs Day 1

This will be an interesting experiment. I have never been able to keep a plant alive. Or grow anything for that matter. Remember back in second grade when we grew lima beans in paper towels? Yeah, mine never even sprouted. My sweet dad bought this because he knows I like to cook with fresh herbs. (When I cook, which isn't very often anymore.)

I was intimidated to even open the box. It has sat on the counter for over a week.

The kit is a little deceiving. It pictures SIX herbs, but they only give you THREE pots. 

The three pots.

These are the three I chose. I use basil and cilantro most frequently. I've never cooked with marjoram, but it is supposed to be good for poultry. I don't eat meat very often and cook it even less, but maybe with a new spice?

The sponge inserts looked like chocolate cake and made me hungry.

SUPER tiny almost invisible seeds.

Roly poly seeds.

Really hope I can make these grow.

I had visions of cute little herbs pots in the kitchen window sill. But according to the detailed instructions the pots must be tented with plastic wrap and placed in a warm place---like on top of the refrigerator. Not so cute. 

I'll be journalling the progress of the herbs, but don't be surprised to find out I've killed them.

TOP SECRET

We just mailed a SUPER secret project proposal package to a MAJOR retailer that contacted us after seeing FlyAKite on etsy.com. Okay, it's not that secret, but we're trying not to jinx it. If things work out we'll be shouting it from the rooftops. And we'll be slaving away morning, noon and night to accomplish it.

Stay tuned and wish us luck!

Sock Monkey

Adorable, right?

We'll be introducing Mr. Sock Monkey to our FlyAKite shop soon. I just had to share him. He would already be in the shop, but I made him as a gift for my cousin and his wife who are expecting their first baby and I forgot to take his measurements. So as soon as I make another he will be available for purchase as a made to order item.