Paddle Cactus or Nopales

I learn something new this weekend (always a good thing). Our neighbors (their from Mexico) popped over last week while I was at work and dropped a bunch of paddle cactus and told Andrew how to prepare them, than a couple hours later dropped off a little of the salad they make for us to try so we would know how it was supposed to turn out. So this weekend I attemped to make my own version and I have to say it came out pretty good for a first time out. Of course it's not much of reccipe more like - little of this and alittle of that. The they made it was little dry for my taste but I pretty much stayed with what they recommended.

I used about 6-7 paddles
1 small white onion (diced)
1 clove garlic or more (crushed)
handful of fresh cilantro or more
lemon juice from 1 medium lemon
a little olive oil
a little vinegar
a little sugar
salt - to taste

To prepare the paddles you slice them in a way that sort of resembles string beans (after their cooked they actually kind of taste like string beans). Than simmer them in water with a little salt. Cook until tender. Stain and rinse with cold water and transfer to a bowl and mix with other ingredients. I'd let it sit for a little while before serving just to let everything marry together.
Our neighbor version was just the cactus, onion, jalapenjo and cilantro and may be a little juice. Cooked and prepare to same way.

Sqrl & Bee Studio

Here's a link to job we just finished up - we designed and built a website for Tara Handknits
These gals make the most beautiful sweaters and accessories. Check it out, all hand knitted, hand dyed wool using natural dye. They are absolutely beautiful. They don't show prices under the items because they mostly sell wholesale but they will sell to you individually if you give them a call.

Well I don't want to let it go too far in between postings but sometimes I just feel like I have nothing to say. I read a couple of other blogs and they just talk about stuff and life. That's what I'm trying to learn here, trying to learn how to journal. Because truthfully those are the kind of things I like to read anyway on those other blogs besides what they've been crafting or cooking. It's kind of funny that we like to read about the goings-on of ordinary people. I don't care what "famous"people are doing. I'd much rather be reading about the new shirt so-in-so made for their child than what Brittany Spears is wearing to some awards. I guess there's just more of a connection to people who live a same kind of life. Now reading books and stories that's different I'll take fantsay any day over a biography or regular fiction. except historical fiction I love that, but it's almost like fantsay (I think) because things are so different it could be different world for all I know. Anyway life has been busy and that's the excuse I use for not posting but life's always busy so it's not a good excuse. But life is good when it's busy, don't ya think?!

Photo Post

I made this little guy for my Step-Mom Suzette right before I left on my trip...

Photo Post

This is one of my favorite pictures. It was taking a couple of years ago. It was not staged, that stuff was all just laying like that on my desk... That's the beauty of it.

Sqrl's List

Well, I'm not sure about the title... Still woking on that. But I going to start bookmarking great sites here under this title or at least something like it. I surf around the web sometimes all day, everyday. Completely out of boredom because I'm trapped at work and have finsihed all my work. Some days this is not the case but more often than not is it. So I'm sharing my finds....

Institute of Official Cheer - I love this site, it just cracks me up.
Fabulou Stationary.com - Absolutely great stationary.
Dot Pebbles - These dolls are cute and unique.
Mexican sugar skulls - I think I have this secret thing for Day of the Dead stuff.
State of the Village Report - This is interesting.

The Girls

Here are some of the things I was working on before I took my short leave. I was making them on my down time at work. Shhhh! Don't tell... These little ladies were gifts for family. From left to right - Posie (for my sister-in-law Amy), Rosie (for Aunt Rose), Roxie (Mom) and Bonney (Grandmom). Rosie and Roxie are twins and well.. My Mom and Aunt are twins, but believe it or not it wasn't on purpose that the twins went to the twins, it just happened.. I swear.

Robin the Gnome

Robin now lives at my Dad's house hopefully in his garden where he belongs... You see, my Dad has a habit of keeping all the stuff I make him in the house to protect them from the elements even if the I specifically made them to go outside. He's my biggest fan but he doesn't listen very well I guess.... I had a hard time saying good bye to Sir Robin but he's in happy place.

I haven't run away

Geeze... I've been gone for while and with no warning though I knew I'd be gone. Where was I? I was on the east coast visiting my family first in PA at my Dad's, then down to NC to visit my brother then back to PA to visit with my Mom and Grandmom. It was a great time and I was completely in a different world... I felt so disconnected from my "life", I didn't think of work or projects or anything really that had to do with my life here. I even had a hard time concentrating while talking to Andrew on the phone (He didn't come along on this trip because school was still in) It was really weird coming back and going back to work I was like ""um, where am I again??" But I am slowly ajusting back my routine and life. Starting to l think about planning our trip to India, and our eventual move to the east coast both of these things being pretty scarey to think about actually doing (all the more reason to do it). I'll do an actual post about what we're planning on doing while in India but the short version is... We will be teaching at a bording school of poor children just outside of the city of Bangalore which is in south central India. Starting this in Janurary and doing it for at least 6 months and probably more if other ideas work out. I did try to post while I was at my brothers house and show off what he got me for my birthday but I didn't work out and I gave up. Anyway, I'm home!!