Photo a Day: May

After meaning to do this since January, I'm finally participating in Fat Mum Slim's Photo A Day partay!  I won't  be posting pictures every day, but will be posting in groups as I remember.  Here's the list for May if anyone wants to hop on board.  Visit Fat Mum Slim for more details on participating!

Source: Fat Mum Slim

Without further delay, May 1st-3rd!


May 1: Peace
Today was our first day of moving, and the only space I could find in our temporary room that wasn't a jumbled mess was this little corner of our dresser.  Peace on a hectic day.

The lighting in the room at 9pm was rather yellow and I don't have the skills to fix that. Deal with it.

May 2: Skyline
It was cloudy all day and rained all afternoon, so my skyline is nothin but clouds.

 

May 3: What I Wore Today

Today we had more moving to do and loads of trash to bring to the dump, so my actual attire wasn't especially inspiring.  These are my staple jewelry pieces.  I usually wear a necklace with my birth stone and a little gold heart from my great grandma, but right now I'm too proud of my bear to not wear my sweetheart wings.

Nostalgia

Source: Penn Archives

I'm currently on a nostalgia kick after writing a paper on the Penn Archives.  Isn't this program cover from 1964 great?  Silly bulldog.

Farmhouse Dreamin'

My husband and I have this grand dream of one day owning a farmhouse complete with a farm and farm animals.   I think he'd make a great farmer, and I'd make an awesome....farmer's trophy wife?

If this is really how adorable baby goats are, then add them to our list of animals wanted, no, needed on the farm.



Look at them! In their sweaters.  Go here for one more baby goats in sweaters video.

Anyone know about farm life?  Or goats?  This dream farm wouldn't happen for years thanks to the US Marine Corps, but it's a pretty nice dream to have!

Grammy's Chocolate Cookies

And then I was  procrastinating and a little depressed, which can only lead to one thing: baking.  My mom and I were talking about what we do when we're sad; she eats, I bake.  I'm not sure if we're perfectly made to be depressed together, or if we're a dangerous, fat-enabling duo.  Unfortunately, my mom isn't here to eat these cookies, so the task has been left to me.  I am a dangerous, one woman, fat-enabler.

Moving on...I decided to choose a cookie that didn't require me leaving the house, and these soft beauties were it!

Grammy's Chocolate Cookies

From Martha Stewart

Hit the link for the recipe.  They're soft and delicious.  A few reviewers noted that they're perfect for add-ins: sliced almonds, mint chips, toffee bits.  Next time I make them, I'll have to spice them up a little.  I always prefer to experience a cookie for the first time without any fancy touches.

Did I mention they're rolled in sugar?  Reminds me of the Gingerbread Softies I made for the holidays.  The recipe calls for sanding sugar, but, come on, Martha, I ain't that fancy.

Not only am I getting great recipes out of my cookbooks, but I'm picking up tricks for my own food photography.

Baby Shower: Purple Crochet Baby Hat

Let's bring this baby series to an end at the top...of the baby's head!

My baby shower gift to the mom-to-be was a crochet baby hat.  She wanted something with a little more pizzazz than a plain old beanie.  I searched through the patterns on Ravelry and Lion Brand for the perfect little girl's hat.

After sifting through about 20 different patterns I landed on this Violet Cloche.  You may need to be a member of Ravelry to see that link.  If you're a knitter or crocheter, it's well worth it to join! (And it's free)

It only took me about 4 hours and 5 restarts to get the hat to the size I felt was right.  I didn't follow the pattern exactly - I took out a row and had to readjust the shells as a result.

Once the hat was whipped up, I felt it was too plain, so I popped a little star on it.  The star pattern is also from Ravelry, A Garland of Stars or it can be found on the blog of the pattern's creator.