Twelve dozen cookies, eleven jars of jam, ten trips to the grocery, nine bottles of wine, eight potluck dishes, seven loaves of bread, six days cleaning, five broken cups, four trips to the mall, three parcels mailed, two favours delivered and one uncomfortable phone call.
 
   The Holidays are crazy. You may have noticed my poem does not include any blog posts. As I was writing, I realized that my little song only encompasses about half of what I have been up to, and there are still four more days to go!
   I couple of years ago, I decided to only give gifts that I know they will love. That does pose a few problems, as it turns out I don't know everyone on my list well enough to make that happen! Also, the bank account doesn't always support that theory, so I added an amendment. I will only give a gift I know they will love, or one that I am excited to give. This means I hand make most of the gifts I give, so I really do start in July. By the time December rolls around, most of my gifts are done! This method of operation means that December should be free of the crazy frenzy, leaving time to enjoy the holidays.

   Lets just be clear. This theory of mine is not
foolproof. The reality of the situation is that I bake more cookies, I host spontaneous dinners, I make it to almost everyones weird event, I end up doing strange favours, I'm always adding people to the gift list...the point being: I am not less busy. I am just as deranged as the rest of you, scrambling around doing the Christmas do.

   The upside if this hair brained scheme is that this year I watched "Frozen" over and over again, along with every other Christmas movie. Also, there were no twelve hour baking frenzies, preparing twenty dozen boxed up holiday treats, icing and sprinkle mixing in a pool of tears making a new type of Christmas cement. I have had the time to fix the leaky hot tub, mount the TV's on the wall, and buy new glasses. I have attended a choir, in a church. I have purchased a classic toboggan just for fun-sies. My wrapping skills have excelled, I have taken some pictures, and made decorations. I went for a ride on a real sleigh, with jingle bell horses.

I have added new traditions and recipes. Made a new cocktail: Colada-rita (Margarita with coconut cream). I had time to sell at a craft sale! I watched the cat 'Stan' sleep, so cute. I have had time to spend the morning in bed watching the fireplace channel and most importantly, everyone in this house is healthy. No Christmas colds or flu here. The most enjoyable part of all of this is going to West Edmonton Mall right before Christmas, grabbing a hot chocolate and watching the chaos unfold around you, knowing you will not be trudging through the stores, your sweaty body laden with bags digging into your tired limbs.

   If you are considering this way of life, it is worth it. People will think you are crazy making Christmas crafts in July, and some will be less than thrilled with your hand-made offerings (they can't all be winners). All of that won't matter if you are excited to just give.


   

   Oh no. Oh no oh no. Home made 'Bailey's' changed my life.
   Oh Bailey's. My once favourite holiday drink, banished from this house along with all other grain alcohol. The story was a sad one, Christmases enjoyed with lowly egg-nog, until today. I was perusing my favourite site, Pinterest, and happened upon a recipe when I had a moment of realization; I could make it with Rum!
   So I did! I find making it with Rum sets mine apart from all others, thus deserving of it's own name. I was thinking Crowthers Canadian Rum?
   This stuff is so good I wonder why I ever paid good money for it in the first place! Firstly, you can make it with more alcohol if you desire. Secondly, it tastes like melted ice cream, far superior to the brand name. And finally, making it yourself means you get to drink more of it because it's more affordable!

   Don't try this. It's delicious, irresistible even.

Recipe as follows.

1 cup of whipping cream (not whipped)
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
3 tbsp of melted chocolate
1tbsp good vanilla extract
1/2 tsp good instant coffee
1 3/4 cup of white rum (you can add more if you want, silly.)

Blend well with immersion blender. I did heat everything except the rum just slightly to ensure the melted chocolate and coffee powder incorporated well. (I added the rum later so as not to affect the alcohol content.)

   Sometimes I feel as though life is just made up of many confusing codes meant to make me feel better at first, but once deciphered are really just designed to let me know how people really feel about me.

   Like the moment when someone gives you a big hug and smile upon meeting up with you, (an hour late) telling you all about how it has been too long since the last visit, while they proceed to incessantly check their phone and fill you in on what other people are doing...on Facebook.
 
   Possibly you have also experienced the bait and switch, wherein you have been invited to a splendid afternoon of fun and games, while upon arrival, you realize what they really meant. They really wanted to invite you over so you can watch their crappy T.V. program while they check their phone for something better to do.

   Since when has it been ok to plan a time to meet someone, only to call 15 minutes past that time to reschedule, and do The Same Thing an hour later!

   Some of you out there must have had this moment; someone asks you what you have been up to lately, you begin to go through your mental files and deliver your most excited recounting of this weeks adventures, when you realize the original question was meant as a "Hey-how-are-ya?". I always feel so silly, I really thought they wanted to know…

   Some people say they love you so much. So much they can't bring themselves to talk to you.

   Have you ever been cuddling, watching a movie with a loved one, when you hear a giggle, a snort, buttons tapping. You look over, encountering the blank look of a glowing face in the dark, hiding behind a tiny screen.

   I have been invited to dinner, only to have the host change the venue without letting me know. I drove half an hour to a different town for a dinner that was happening down the street from my house. Needless to say, we were late.

   I get it, people are busy, plans change. I only want to know, is it me? Am I the only one who feels this code is perplexing? Does easily accessible technology give everyone the right to abandon simple courtesy and manners? Is it the people I am choosing to have in my life?

   I miss just watching the hockey game with Grandma, eventually one of us thought of something to talk about, even if it wasn't groundbreaking. I miss the days when I could call someone, make a date, meet at the agreed upon time, and enjoy someones simple company. All the funniest things happen when I'm just wasting time with somebody special.
 
  I guess not so much has changed, except now the only special person I seem to be able to waste time with is myself.
   I think I may bring along some paper and glue, sparkles and pom-poms wherever I go. That way when everyone is "busy" on their phone, I will enjoy myself!

   Maybe I shouldn't be so harsh. My honorary Grandpa always listens (even if he doesn't always hear), and is always up for a cup of tea if he's not feeling like a glass of wine. My pets always give me all of their undivided attention and I'm sure they could write a whole blog of their own feelings of being ignored. Paint is so patient, my sewing machine is always there for me, strangers read this blog (thank you), my grocery clerk seems really genuine, and the ladies at rug hooking have always made me feel like I really am interesting and talented. My sister believes in me and takes the time to call almost everyday, even though she is the busiest person I know. My Mister commits to painting decorations and making Christmas cards with me, I am aware how much he would rather be doing almost anything else.   I would also like to thank the stranger in the grocery store who wanted me to know about the shorter line I could be taking advantage of. Thank you.

   The life of a hooker. As it turns out, I happen to be one of the slowest hookers around. If you thought we didn't keep track, well the truth is, we do. I didn't set out to be like this, it just happened. Before I realized it, I had been working on the same one for nearly three years!

   Maybe now is a good time to clear up any misconceptions; I'm talking about rugs and it's way smaller than you imagine (I'm sure). I enjoy how they start to take on a life of their own. Anything it was in the beginning, it has metamorphosed into it's peculiar character.
   I thought maybe six months, boy was I wrong. I should have listened to all the ladies at rug hooking when they told me not to use such fine yarn, and I didn't listen. My frugal brain was on one track to free materials, and so it was that this rug was made with mostly yarn, and a lot of acrylic. (Gasp!) The Edmonton Traditional Rug Hookers Guild ( http://www.edmontontraditionalrughookersguild.com ) just love wool and cannot comprehend why I would choose lesser materials. "Because it's Free!" I would exclaim.
   I now know the error of my ways, as it takes forever to hook a rug with tiny threads, even if they are free. I have learned valuable technique in fine detail as well as the importance of persistence. I think it wise to choose a tiny hot matt for my next project, with a wide cut wool.  Maybe then I could finish in one year!

   Yesterday, at the monthly Hookers meeting, I finally was able to stand in front of the group and show my nearly finished piece! (Finished enough, just need to complete the hot pink edge.) It felt really good to have the support of so many great people, very much the reason I keep going back.

   Now I'm free! Free to start a new project without the guilt of UFO's (un finished objects) haunting me.
 

   How cold is it? It's -36C with the wind this morning. If it seems like all I talk about is the weather, it's because I am currently trapped in my house and there is not so much to talk about. Not in the literal sense that I cannot open my door, (although that is almost true) more so trapped by the will to survive. We had so much snow yesterday and it is so cold that to go to the store may require a lot of digging, possibly being stuck, the high probability of a traffic collision, or being stranded in a car at frigid temperatures. Yesterday I had to shovel the snow just so I could close the door, it was trying to invade my house! This morning Francis had to go rescue the Chihuahua from the yard as he attempted to poo. The crying like a small child as he scurried through the door and ran to his warm bed made me laugh. That's the dog I'm speaking of, not Francis.

   We remain optimistic because we have to, we know that it could get colder still. So why do I stay? Why don't I choose a warmer part of Canada? After all it is a big country. I feel as though this picture will speak for itself.

 










 It was a very cold experience to get this shot, even with snow pants and long johns (and hat, mitts, scarf, sweater, coat, you get the idea). When the flakes are flying, who can resist? I wish you could all know the difficulty in capturing these images. I fear you could never really know until you are sitting in a pile of snow with your camera and cheeks literally freezing, slowly turning into blocks of ice. My Shih-tzu whom I lovingly refer to as the Snow Beast, found it hilarious to sneeze on my subjects, sending them back into the storm from which they came.
I can hear every relative who ever moved away telling me it's not worth it. All I can say is that I have no choice, I feel the calling, I dream about crystallizing water droplets, I cannot stop.

  As I watch the temperature drop, I wonder when it's safe to shovel yet. Is it even worth it? Will the snow drift three feet up the door by the time I finish? One thing I know for sure,  -29 C with the windchill is going to make photographing snowflakes very chilli. I almost hope they are all clumpy and broken. Here is a shot of some ice on the garage window, reminds me of delicate feathers.

   I managed to get a few more good flake shots. I'm starting to feel a bit crazy, every time my hand melts some snow as I steady my hand for another photo, I worry about what new marvel I am destroying. There were so many perfect flakes, the torture was not having the perfect conditions to capture them, I just need to get closer!

   New favourite thing: snowflakes. It's as if the other day while I was photographing the tiny miracles I was transported to another world, and it is all I can think about. Tiny particles of water arranging themselves into majestic shapes and sprinkling from the sky like confetti. Like confetti in a snowy windstorm…
   Today we went cross country skiing, on a grey windy snowy day. Weather was at a -27 if you are taking into account the windchill factor, which I certainly am. It's getting pretty cold outside but I was still just glad to be out there. The sun will be setting a 4:20 today and winter is letting itself be known.

    I found myself outside anyway, freezing in my ski pants, snapping pictures as natures cruel wind ruffled my subjects out of focus. After many nearly good pictures, I managed to get these two nice ones before I succumbed to the promise of warmth. Even now, knowing conditions are not favourable, I will attempt another outing, in the hopes of snapping a perfect unicorn. I mean, snowflake.

 Life is all about the simple things, like snowflakes. Anyone hoping to disagree with me need only to look at these beauties I snapped yesterday. As the tiny perfectly formed flakes were so softly landing on my cold head, I was crouched, my face within inches of the fence, my chilled fingers steadying the camera, my neighbours wondering what the heck I'm doing.  It seems to me that a snowflake rarely makes the journey all the way from the heavens down to our earthly plane unscathed, their majesty on display for all of us to enjoy, while we stomp all over them with our winter boots complaining of the weather. 

   I guess sometimes life is about having fun toys to express yourself, like this amazing camera. You would imagine to get macro shots like this I might need a huge camera with a fancy lens. These were taken with my beloved and trusty Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T9, an eight year old model that is about the size of a deck of cards, and has been dropped a time or two. It has it's 'quirks' like sometimes it vibrates, which really make a picture like this tough. But it works, and the new cameras do not have great macro settings. If anyone does know of a currently for sale camera with a great macro setting that is not the size of a lunchbox, you must let me know, or gift it to me for being awesome. Trade for a picture? Or eternal gratefulness? 

I must read this Blog post tomorrow as I shovel an estimated shit-ton of snow, it seems we are under a snowfall warning. A forecast of -23 C for the weekend, which is getting pretty cold. I think I may invest in some wool underclothes this year.

   I love my dog... now. It wasn't always this way. Presently she is snoring so loud, (in the other room) I keep thinking the garbage truck is going by or my washing machine is off balance, and that is the best sound ever. She has the well deserved moniker  'Crazy Maggie' that after five years, she is finally growing out of. The house she came from was minus drywall and baseboards in places thanks to Maggie. She has a taste for leashes and has had the pleasure of sampling about twenty of them, same goes for mitts and of course, socks. In the middle of the night I wake to hear blankets being torn and shredded by a certain someone, locked in her cage, being all sad that she cannot sleep on the bed. Needless to say, we go through a lot of blankets, and dog beds. Our house always looks like the shadiest on the block, screen flapping in the wind because she just jumped through it, again. (She always saves it for when you begin to trust her again, you finally fixed the screen and there's something really good outside.) She can zero in on your most cherished wool blanket, (received as a wedding gift,) and eat holes in it on numerous occasions. Getting into serious trouble after each incident did not deter her, I had to hide it in the closet, never to be used again. Curiously she left the second hand shabby wool blankets untouched. She has thieved a pound of butter off the counter. She has knocked over a strangers small child.
   I would be lying if I said never have I had a moment of regret in taking this beast. I see people post that they would love love to have a Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog (weird breed, I know) and I just laugh and laugh.  Oh, you will love them, just look at those eyes. It's your house, your clothes, your house guests that will suffer. It's all worth it though.

   Even worth the time she knocked me over at the knees, bolting right through me at mach one, sending me barreling down a snowy hill...
 

   I could go on all day!

 

   It's official, I have a problem.
    Below you will find a picture of a wooden spoon with my face burnt onto it. Oh yeah. This is something that I feel everyone should own, with their personal visage.

   The question begs to be asked, is the problem stemming from the fact that I like to place my mug on all manner of random articles, or the part where all wooden objects in my home are now under intense study, fearing for their safety.
   It is a good thing I don't live in a wood house, or maybe it's a bad thing…
   Maybe that's where it starts to get interesting, when crazy risks are taken, when you get such a fantastic yet ridiculous idea and you just go for it.
   Speaking of crazy ideas, I'm going to need one for the tile in my shower, it's almost time.


 
 
 

   So this year I'm going for it, I'm going to have two Christmas trees. (Who doesn't have two trees lying sound?)This has been a life goal of mine for quite some time. I mean, if one is good, two will be great! Perhaps I will add one more each year until there is one in each room! I always have too many decorations anyways and now I can have themes. Where to put two trees in a small house? Why on a table of course.
   I can already hear the naysayers telling me how silly of an idea this is because it will cause my tree to fall over. Well I have news for you, it falls over every year. My mischievous cat enjoys nothing more than leading the chase around and around the tree, three over zealous dogs careening behind in perfect order, from smallest to largest. At least this table arrangement minimizes the pet's enthusiastic display, as well as ensures the sparkly wrapped gifts are decorated in tinsel instead of pet hair. (No guarantees I guess.)
   Now just waiting for the special day, the perfect moment when I make hot chocolate and cookies, maybe a little rum, and put the decorations on the trees!

   New life question; is it possible to make refillable glitter cannon? I'm sure I would use it for every holiday, and I have needed it for every holiday that has already passed. Of course I need to make the chamber large enough to hold an entire Martha Stewart giant glitter container. Just give me time… and some compressed air… I will have to get back to you on that.
 
   Recently I discovered that there is a term for my 'affliction', it's called Pyrography- the art of decorating wood and other materials with burn marks. Turns out there are museums and magazines dedicated to it! Also interested to find out that my fancy designs are rudimentary in comparison to the amazing level of art that is out there. Some talented people have burned leather boots, rocking chairs, and guitars with fine strokes of a burning tool creating works that look practically painted.

I was inspired by the weather to create this simple snowflake motif, which may find it's way on to other random items in my house, rudimentary or not. 

Can't stop, won't stop, Pyrography is for me!

   Be Happy, seems like a simple enough concept, and I am on a quest. I have been on this quest for four years which, basically consists of consciously choosing the people, feelings, thoughts, and activities that make me happy. The opposite is also true, anything that makes me feel bad is also banished, so beware all of you Grumpsters out there.

   Feel like painting the house orange and yellow, go for it! Always wanted to try purple hair? Do you feel like you would be happier if only you could spend the day making a Lego dream house? Think drinking wine in bed on Sunday morning while playing video games will make you happy? You are now required to find out.
   I have to say that I am really liking this lifestyle, and I feel like I am happier.
   Here is the catch: it takes work. It doesn't just come to me, I don't just wake up happy, as Francis can attest. Much like people say that a happy marriage takes work, which I find to also be true. So the big question of the day, what's happening today to make myself happy?

   For starters, stay indoors... Maybe change that to stay warm, on account of the fact that it is so sparkly outside. Taking pictures does make me happy. Also Francis registered us for the upcoming YEG Giant Snow Fight and that makes me really happy. Possibly I need to bake some cookies, make some hot chocolate, and decorate? Happy Monday!
   The real truth, I can't seem to banish the dishes, laundry, or mopping of the floor. Sometimes it still happens when a sneaky pet pees on my clean socks, and I put them on. Today my front door was frozen shut and I had to pry it open to get out. However, when I take the time to make myself happy, those things i cannot banish don't seem to bother me so much.

 

   New holiday tradition! Advent calendars! Who's to say that as an adult I have to stop enjoying the excitement of one of the best holiday traditions? As a child, I always loved the anticipation of chocolate each morning, and enjoying be sugary treat in front of my sister, who ate all hers on the second day. (I think she still has a problem.) I am a believer that now that I am all grown up, the quality of treats should really be top notch.
   Also, I live with a trustworthy person, who would never steal my candy, so there's no fear of that, (Rachel…)
   Of course we will paint them, and glitter them. Oh yeah, and fill them. I'm pretty sure I can fit Lego Minifigures in there. I will post a picture post glitter.

   Okee dokee, I bought the 3Doodler pen. Judge me if you want, I needed it. If there ever was a person who required such a tool, it's this girl. So let me review!
   Any of you who watched the commercial, as I did, was expecting to pick up this fancy pen and create  any number of magical creations. This was not the case. After an hour of frustratingly slow progress, all I had to show for it was a table full of misshapen plastic bits. I was starting to feel like maybe I'm not as artsy fartsy as I thought! I had to show this pen who's boss.
   I was also very optimistic that this pen is for more than just doodling, figuring that melted plastic must stick to all sorts of other materials. In my quest to prove this to be true, as well as become the master of 3Doodler, I pressed on.  After some doing, I came up with these. The card was fun and easy, but the plastic became unstuck quickly. I used my favourite spray glue and some glitter to save it, and it worked out great! The eye started just as a doodle, to see what the pen is really made for.

Now here is where the whole game changed, I got out the iron. Stroke of genius I tell you. I used some waxy type paper that came with my iron-on transfers, to keep the plastic from sticking to the iron. Then I used a lot of pressure and no steam to get the plastic to adhere to a tight weave, no stretch fabric.

 But No, it does not end here.
   See these little spaces in between the green lines of the eye? Well I'm about to cut those into little holes. Yeah I am.

And here it is on top of my computer screen to emphasize the holes. This makes me happy. This is also only the beginning… Just imagine, the clothes, the layers, the glitter, infinite design possibilities. All of this leaves me with another question, what else can I melt it to?

   One of my new favourite things, Port! Thank you Tania. If this is something you have never tried, I highly recommend that you do! Not only is it delicious and full bodied, it is made with grapes, it is fortified at 20% alcohol, and is made in Portugal.
    I am a person who seems to disagree with grain alcohol, or rather it seems to disagree with me. Sometimes I feel like this makes the selection very limited, so I was extra enthusiastic when I discovered this delectable thirst quencher.
   Somehow this beverage seems fancy to me, like it deserves to be served with expensive chocolate, or a lavish Julia Child calibre meal. Pretty sure this needs to happen.
   This fits perfectly with my Campaign to Enjoy Winter! I think that the very low temperature today (-27 C with windchill, according to the radio) deserves an extra effort to appreciate this crazy weather, and I know it will get colder…
   Last year I thought my fridge was broken (it has a history), but really it had been so cold outside for so long, the fridge no longer felt cold to my hands. Also, I'm pretty sure I got a touch of frostbite on my legs last year while I was waiting in line for 50 minutes at -21C, to get into a bar at 5am to watch the Gold medal Hockey game, in which Canada won. Go Canada!

Stay Warm.

   The day has arrived! My David Suzuki sweater is here! Is it everything I have ever imagined? Yes! Way fluffier that I dreamed, perfect timing for cold cold winter. Those knitters must have been knittin' up a storm!
   Thank you Granted Clothing, worth every penny.
http://www.grantedclothing.com
   I can fulfill my dream of sitting in my bed watching movies while wearing my cozy sweater and hooking a rug. Now you get an idea of the calibre of goals on my bucket list, I think I take the phrase "It's all about the simple things" a little too literally.
   It also makes me feel all fuzzy to know that there are people alive in Canada making a living by hand knitting. When I win a big lottery, I will buy a sweater from here for everyone I like (you're welcome).
      You can also see my new hair colours! (It's not your computer screen.) That some teal, blue and pink! I love it, and now you have the chance to say out loud all the things you don't like about it, in private. Thereby saving you from saying it to my face and hurting my feelings, which I would never tell you about. Besides, as Francis (and Ellen) says: "What you think about me, is none of my business."
   All this makes me wonder, now that the extensive wait is over and the forever desired sweater is finally in my clutches, what now? I require a new-fangled wish. Another novel want, perhaps a real goal with more objective and focus, maybe even something to add more meaning to my life! (Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself.)

   In my campaign to enjoy winter, I feel as though I have to register for Edmonton's upcoming impromptu giant snowball fight! (This is a real thing.) It sounds fun and crazy and I think I might need some of that right now, don't you?
   Feeling a little uninspired… Have glitter, don't know what to glitter, and that's a problem. I'm pretty sure that there should be a glittery mood indicator, the less glittery, the lower the mood.
   After much deliberation, I did add a little glitter to my door with this big 'C' that I cut out of sticky vinyl (on my Cricut machine), sprayed with glue and coated in red glitter. Then I stuck the wreath (I received as a gift) on the door with magnets. It did make me feel a little more inspired!

On the other side of the door, was my version of a fridge, covered in magnets and pictures. It was getting a little crazy, so I took matters into my own hands. I think I will be getting more of these picture frames, I picked them up cheap at Ikea and added a tiny magnet to each corner with super glue. I liked them so much, I put some on the back door! Now that I look at these pictures, I think they need a bit of glitter, umm, a lot of glitter maybe.

That tiny black dot in the middle of the door is a tiny mustache, of course. Now I must get back to the glittering...

   Ok people, who has heard of a 3Doodler pen?
    It is the most amazing new art pen and it is for sale for the low price of about $100, and I need it. Yes, I require a pen worth $100.
   I can hear some of you saying that it better be freakin' amazing before you will deem it worthy of anyones hundred dollars. Let me assure you, it is.

   This pen writes in three dimensions with plastic. You heard me correctly. My mind is reeling at the possibilities, what materials would not fuse with melted plastic? I saw an application on fabric and that was it for me. Anyone who has not heard of this needs to look it up.
http://the3doodler.com

   I wish I could buy one for each and every one of you. I wish I had one right here so I could play with it and take pictures and show you what it can make! Soon enough…

   I did buy a different toy this summer, the new instax mini8 camera, it is a new polaroid type instant camera and I love it! It is funny how entertaining it is to watch the anticipation of a horrible picture slowly developing. I am currently using it for a different project, a gratitude scrappy journal. (May also be called an artsy fartsy journal.) I just doodle whatever, include a memento of the day and all the things I'm grateful for. It highly recommend it, both the journal and the camera!

    I'm turning over a new snowflake. I do love winter, however I'm starting to feel like maybe it's for the wrong reasons. Previously winter kept me coming back because of the cookies and hot chocolate, the movies and wool blankets, and the absence of physical activity.
   This year may be the year I learn a lesson from other frozen countries and enjoy the outdoors. Maybe take in a coffee on a frozen patio, perhaps enjoy my sheepskin rug on the hammock, have a fire and roast a marshmallow, maybe even ski. Perhaps I require a full Elsa from Frozen costume so I can go sing from the mountaintops all while spinning and flailing in a glitter throwing frenzy.
   One thing I do love about winter is burning candles, and also, glitter. So I have combined the two to make these glorious and inexpensive yet fancy looking centrepiece candles.

 These are so easy, just lightly mist all the way around with spray adhesive, then sprinkle and roll whatever fine glitter you want. I used cream coloured candles and warm gold tones, also white candles with white glitter. It looks best if the candle and glitter kinda match. Before you get all fire department on me, I have tried this and neither the glue nor the glitter causes any flare ups in the flame (but of course you should always use proper safety when using candles and never leave them unattended). I hope you give it a try, everyone could use more glitter!

   If someone told you that you could abolish most of your chronic health problems for one teeny tiny price, you might think you are making a deal with the devil. All you have to do is never eat a doughnut, Big Mac, or really anything from a restaurant ever again.
   I'm talking about going gluten free and I did make the deal. Do I miss Big Macs or doughnuts? You better believe it. Would I ever go back? Hells to the No. All that being said, I made some delicious, chewy, crusty, almost fluffy french bread. All of you who partake in the fluffy dreamlike regular white bread should probably disregard this recipe, as you are probably too tired to make it.
   This was really great with hot cheese dip or in the place of crackers, and would make really great cheesy garlic bread or croutons. (Not suitable for sandwiches)

2 1/4 tsp     yeast
1 1/2 cups  rice flour
1 1/2 cups  tapioca flour
1 tsp           xanthan gum
1 1/2  tsp    salt
2 tsp           sugar
1 tbsp         psyllium fibre
1 1/4 cups  warm water
2 tbsp        melted butter
3                egg whites
1 tsp          vinegar

   Now leave behind any preconceived notion of what bread dough should look like and just accept the process. I put all dry ingredients including the yeast (because I was using quick rise yeast) in the stand mixer and mixed it up. Then put the psyllium fibre in with the water and let stand about 2 minutes. Then I add all wet into the dry and mix it on med-high speed for one minute. It will look like a sloppy mess, but you will pour it on a cookie sheet in two log shapes and then loosely form them with wet hands. It is better to try and get the shape you want as you pour, as it does really want to stick to your fingers. Turn on the oven to 400 and let your bread rise in a warm draft free place about 20 minutes. Pop in the oven about 40 minutes. Do not open the oven, or your bread may sink.

Here it is! In all of it's glory. It really stepped up my fancy dinner of stuffed mushrooms, hot cheese & herb dip, and chicken cordon bleu crepes. I love the chewy texture of this bread and it makes my house smell like it used to, like french bread. 

   What happened? Where did I go? It has been like a week! Short answer: I have been scheming.
It's Fall, I needed some new projects, food, style,  crafts, etc.
   I fell in love with the leek, now I see why it's called the king of onions. I really only made one dish, pasta with a creamy goat cheese sauce topped with garlic sautéed mushrooms and leeks, but it was so delicious I need to put leeks in everything! I really should have taken a picture.
   I finally ordered my long coveted sweater. I'm very sure that all of you have heard me talk about a particular hand-made in Vancouver, wool sweater, that just happens to have David Suzuki's face knitted into the back of it! You heard me, his face. I have been yackin' about it for more than a year, saving my pennies, dreaming… And in two more weeks, it will be in my grubby little hands.
You can check it out at http://www.grantedclothing.com/collections/cbc/products/david-suzuki-1
Or wait for my Blog post in two weeks…
 
   Halloween was a success, ran out of candy and not because I ate it! Had some really cute and enthusiastic trick or treaters although I was not able to scare any of them. Pretty sure I scared some adults with my black teeth though.
   Also caught the costuming bug, anyone in need of costuming services? I feel like I could make costumes for the rest of my life.

   If you are looking for a movie to go see, new out is 'St. Vincent' and it's really great, funny and touching. That's right, Bill Murray is touching. I recommend it, and also, buy the popcorn. It's worth it. (But don't buy the butter, it's not.)

   The most important discovery was home made Boursin style soft flavoured cheese. I could eat a whole lot of the stuff, indeed I do. So much so that I bought a large log from Costco and made some delicious variations! Recipe is not really needed. It's about
1/4 cup goat cheese
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 clove garlic
1/2 tsp oregano
Or you could use any type of spices you like!
In the one on the left, I added an oven roasted tomato, so good.

   Now, we prepare for Christmas! Hooray! (The most glittery holiday.) If I start now, I can probably glitter a lot of stuff...