Be back soon

I cant believe that it has been over 2 months since I have posted.
There has been so much going on. I have loads to share!
I will be back tomorrow with a huge post!

shopping for a cause

Christmas is fast approaching......
My goal this year, as in years past, is to stay away from big box stores.
I like to buy gifts locally, handmade, or supporting a good cause.
I love shopping at museum stores, the items are nice and unique.
The majority of the proceeds go to community art programs.

The museum shop of the Art Institute of Chicago
has some really nice gift giving ideas.

The Spa Goddess on ETSY has some amazing handmade products.

Saco Valley Fiber Artist
has a great Christmas sale every year,
last year I bought quite a few gifts there.

I will be doing a show this year....hope to see you there! The cookie walk is fantastic!!!!

Casco Bay High School-Craft Fair and Cookie Walk

196 Allen Avenue
Portland, Maine 04103
Portland

Nov 20, 2010. The 5th annual Casco Bay High School / Portland Arts & Technology High School Craft Fair is an event not to be missed. Free admission, pleanty of free parking, free entertainment and over 50 of the most talented crafters from all over Maine. Check out Portland's longest cookie walk too. New and Used book sale, white elephant table, raffles galore. Visit the Casco Bay Cafe for some hot chili, soup, delicious sandwiches or a slice of home made pie and coffee. Event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

stuff that I am liking

This song! Badly Drawn Boy

This hair style

I am so in love with this tunic! Green Rainbow Shop

This lovely scarf from here

NPR on Sunday afternoons

especially this show

I am currently making bags for this charity

These Bora Bora Bars, they are so light, fresh, and delicious. YUM!

This recipe was a hit with everyone!

Proper English Cottage Pie

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 carrots, diced
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 1/2 cups beef broth
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• salt and pepper to taste
• 4 potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup milk
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 pound shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. To Make Meat Filling: Place a large skillet over medium heat. Crumble in ground beef and saute 1 minute. Add onion and carrot, then continue to saute until meat is no longer pink and onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Mix in flour, cinnamon, mixed herbs, and parsley.
3. In a small bowl, combine beef broth and tomato paste. Mix together, then add to beef mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste. Lower heat and simmer mixture for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until almost all of liquid has been absorbed. Spoon mixture into a 9 inch pie plate.
4. To Make Potato Topping: Place diced potatoes in a medium saucepan. Cover with water and place over high heat. Allow to come to a boil. Boil for 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Drain.
5. Mash potatoes until smooth, then add butter or margarine, followed by milk. Whip until fluffy. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spread potatoes over beef filling. Sprinkle with grated Cheddar cheese.
6. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes, until top is browned and cheese is bubbly.

common ground fair

I have always wanted to go to the Common Ground Fair.

It's in Unity, Maine which is about a 2 hour drive from Portland.
I always heard about it being such a long trip, and then you had to sit in traffic for hours. Blekk.
However that was not the case.....
when you have good traveling partners, the time just flies!

We got there in under 2 hours, quickly found a parking spot,
and was driven to the gate by a member of a tractor club!
Ivan, of course did not want to sit next to his Mamma;
he found it way cooler to be next to the driver.
Charlotte was overwhelmed with excitement!

The farmers market was so beyond impressive.....
gorgeous colors, everything SO FRESH!

They had great snack food...wild blueberries,
and whole wheat fried dough with organic maple syrup,
which were eaten up within 20 minutes of entering.

There were loads of classes you could take...
including how to make your own shelter, and teepee.

How to make a fire in the wilderness
(with a knife, parachute cord, and wood)
Be sure to never go into the wilderness without these items!

there were loads of farm birds.....

pretty flora....

really cool outfits!!!! Not a coach purse in sight!  :)

loads of sheep and goats. The fiber tent was amazing....
so amazing I forgot to take photos :(

Bunnies!!!!! Ivan wants one.....um..no!

Ivan also wants a mule...he spent quite a bit of time patting this one.
We went back three times.

We were there for about 5 hours,
and I think we may have seen about half of it.
There were loads of craft tents, made in Maine tents,
how to tents, that we never made it to.
There was a great music tent, where we saw this band perform...
The Milliners.

I bought
honey, lavender castille soap,  Llama felted soap,
amazing cheese, and yummy cider....all made in Maine!

I am surely going back next year...the plans are already in the works!
However, next year I will be going for 2 days so I can see EVERYTHING!

summer time flies!!!!

so, I spent every possible day at the beach, which was a lot!

It was a beautiful summer!

 Loads of new things happening......

It was "the boys" first day of 3rd grade.

 

we had a heat wave....95 degrees!!!!! super hot.

I have new classroom at SMCC

it's a wee bit stale! but the view right out the windows and door is this!

we went out to dinner at the Snow Squall to celebrate the last day of summer vacation.

The food was yummy, and the music great! Support your local restaurants!!!!!

Ivan brought a date...Miss Mayne. hee hee!

One of the best part of starting a new term at school is....

aren't they great! they are actually cream (they look white in the photo)and olive..... so I figure I can wear them this fall....they were 60% off!!!! which was great because they were originally $115.00

Yikes....but they feel just like heaven when you have them on!

trying to decide

on a couple of fabrics for fall skirts....
most fabrics are by designer Alexander Henry...whom I love!
all fabrics can be found at Sew Mama Sew.....

I like this one....but could be really hard to match up on the seams...
and would be very noticeable if I didn't.

I love this one...it's almost a definite!

hmm...the one below is so cool!

This would be pretty for Autumn.

I love this one...the gray and white....plus the bits of red and yellow!
it would go great with my mustard colored Frye boots!

loving this one in cordroy

the next two may be too spring like.

the two below would be great for winter!

decisions...decisions!!!!