Travel Log 11-12: My Current Obsessions

 Well everyone, I have been obsessively working on artwork lately. I even revamped my profile pic, even though most wouldn't notice the difference. I've been doing a trial on a new to me digital art program called Corel Painter. This thing rocks! Like seriously, all it needs is face paint and it's filling in for KISS...ahem, I digress, lol.
    Here's an example-
My profile pic before (done entirely in microsoft paint if you can believe it):

and here is the new revamped one (which includes the switch from my natural hair color to my current choice)

It took me about half the time to do the new one.
    Now I'm working on the artwork for our Christmas cards, which is awesome because  I have wanted to do that for years but never had the equipment.
    But other than artwork I have taken on my first turkey this past week (alright it was a turkey breast, but hey, never even tried that before!) and it was a pretty good run. The only hiccup was that I freaked out about the meat being pink and put it in for a half hour longer until I checked the USDA website and found out it's ok, lol. What's the holidays without a little fear of food poisoning?
     Doing trial runs on all the new recipes for thanksgiving and so far they have all worked. Going to try and roast a pork loin in my new electric roasting pan this weekend.And I should have pictures of rolls too as I am going to do another batch tonight! I'll also be posting a blog on meditation a little later. If I'm going to use this blog as an online diary of sorts then I need to start recording some of my spiritual experiences here as well, so bear with me =D.

Travel Log 11-9: And Now For Something Completely Different..

Ok, not so very different, but I couldn't think of a title (it happens to the best of us how do you think they got The Iceman Cometh?).I've been hitting up the after Halloween sales and I found something I just had to share!
    This is my new computer companion-

She sits on top of my scanner and watches me surf the web and of course peruse all of your blogs!
She shares her spot with Iron Man (because who would be better to ward of tech problems I ask you).

I got a few other goodies, but she is by far my favorite!
   My sweet hubby also got me the scanner/copier/printer so she has an even posher spot to rest.
   This weekend marked my first foray into the strange and cryptic world of yeast. This is a place I haven't so much feared to tread, but have been wary to broach (wary, yes wary, cause a grown woman shouldn't be scared spitless of a little packet of powder). But this weekend I rolled up my sleeves and went for it. I started simple and made my first set of from scratch rolls. They were Honey Wheat rolls and I knotted them and made them look all pretty and everything.
     I would have pictures except by the time I went and got the camera and came back half of them were gone and my husband and the evil midgets (some people call these mischievous fae "kids" or "children" but I calls 'em like I see's 'em) were all conspicuously not in the kitchen and when questioned had sworn that they were all in another town sitting quietly and definitely NOT touching the rolls at the time of the disappearance. So I have no pictures, but I hope to do another set in a day or so (they take overnight to rise) and then I shall have the camera ready.
    I can't wait to try other types of bread! Jaz over at Octoberfarm has some awesome no-knead recipes that I  have been dying to try so now all I need to do is get a clay pot like she has and I'm on it!

Travel Log 11-8-2: Cause I'm Totally Late To The Party...

I just found out about the Bloggerette Sorority and am posting this because I really really want to join (can you tell that I wasn't in one in college? lol). So if you're not part of it then check it out here, and if you are I hope I get to join you!

Travel Log 11-6: I've Been Productive

Well today has been a really productive day. Been out and done all the shopping, opened up and played with- uh I mean used, my birthday presents. I was lucky enough to get a pressure canner and an electric roaster for my birthday and I currently have some spaghetti sauce canning and a roast making my mouth water. It's been a good day, when I get the pics downloaded I'll be sure to post them. Working on a few ideas for home made christmas presents for the adults in our life this year. We've been doing so well starting to do most stuff home made and I want to kinda show it off to family and friends. Oh and don't forget to enter the Giveaway that the lovely people over at CSN stortes have been kind enough to sponsor! Click here and get your entry in!

Travel Log 11-2: And Now for a Very Important Note....

...get out there and vote!
     I am not, on the whole, a political person. It all just irritates the hell out of me and makes me want to put all those pundits and elected officials in a room with bears that missed lunch. But for those of us who live here in the good 'ol US of A this is the time to get up off our butts and say something (albeit anonymously in a closed booth, that like by law no one can see into...but anyway it IS speaking up!). Of course there are a lot of people who don't, and usually they are the sane and reasonable people- because most sane people look at our political choices and want to run screaming in the opposite direction, cause well, they are sane and reasonable people. But I digress.
      The point is that unless we use our voice we cannot be heard.
     As a card carrying pagan (hey, if something is around long enough SOMEONE will give out cards for it...) I am in a marginalized and generally discounted minority. Yes there are a lot of us but we are not orginized, nor are we cohesive. Also quite a few of our numbers are in situations that do not allow them to freely express their religious affilitations, which sucks but hey it happens to the best of us. So how do we a) get a voice, and b) make sure that it is used to advance our situation and protect our rights?
VOTE!
     Voting is annonymous and it's only beneficial. It only takes a few minutes, and it's a way that all of us can help to back up those groups that are out there fighting for our rights and standing on the front lines getting hit with the crazy stick that a lot of the right wingers seem to carry about there person somewhere.
     There are tons of websites out there that list the candidates and what they stand for, and what voices they are going to listen to.
     So today instead of getting up in arms because someone has called us satanic, or crazy, or has put in-appropriate art work somewhere,  let's hit 'em where it hurts- in the votes!

Travel Log 11-1: Oh What A Time We Had

Sorry for the absence right after meeting some of you but this weekend, besides being All Hallow's Eve, was also the first time my best friend has gotten to visit me in about 2 years. She moved up to Washington state about 6 years ago and I have missed her like crazy. So we were a bit crazy, what with all the running amok and all. Unfortunately no governments were toppled or mayhem mayhammed (is that even a word? Well now it is!). But we had a lot of fun and I am still exhausted from last night.
     She talked me and the hubby into spending our 5year anniversary (yup, married on Halloween) at a local venue for a Rockabilly show headlining with the Horrorpops. We didn't know much about the genre (don't I sound all artsy and stuff- genre...g-en-re, just saying it makes me feel more cultured, lol) but we got a quick education last night. And it was great! I now have a bunch of bands to research and for those of you who may know who they are we saw The Muertones, Resurex, FOF, The Horrorpops, and the Necromantix made a surprise appearance. What was great was the 3 classic hearses lined up in front of the show. It was awesome!
     Unfortunately the conversation that happened on the way back to the car was "we are too old for this shit" "my back is killing me" and "what ever made me wear the platform leather thigh high boots?"  But hey, what are friends for except to show you that you are waaaay past your prime.
Hopefully she will get the pictures loaded up quick and I'll toss some on here!
     Since I'm feeling uber cool and all sock hopper-ish (also now a word! I'm going to start my own dictionary soon..) instead of saying good bye I'll just catch y'all on the flipside!

Travel Log 10-28: And the Winner is.....

One of a Witchy Kind!!

Just drop me a line and give me your shipping info and your new broom will be winging your way!