Croissants

I made not one, but two batches of croissants over the past couple of days.  I had a date with a friend to make them yesterday morning, but after reading the recipe I realized that we were in for a long wait to taste those delectable treats, so I started a batch the night before with the idea that we would just pop them in the oven in the morning for a taste with our coffee.  I felt like I was prepping for a cooking show!  We did in fact have one with our coffee, as well as whipping up another batch for post-lunch enjoyment.  The best part (besides hanging out together) was the strawberry-rhubarb puree we invented.  Delicious!  It reminded me of the pastry filling in Italy.  Ah, good memories.  There are pictures of these tasty pastries, but none that I have in my possession at the moment.  You'll just have to imagine them.  And, maybe it's better that way anyway.

Liebster Award

I received the Liebster Award from Lisa over at Diary of a Square Toothed Girl.  Thanks Lisa!  I had the pleasure of meeting Lisa face-to-face a couple of weeks ago.  What fun to meet a fellow blogger over a yummy dish of Pad Thai!

 

Here are the questions she posed that I am to answer.  The rules are to answer these 11 questions then link to five other bloggers with under 200 followers asking them 11 questions.

 

1.Why do you blog?

 To connect with other like-minded people.

2. What is your advice to someone overcoming adversity?

Hang in there.  Nothing lasts forever.  Nothing.

 

3. If a movie was made of your life, who would play you?

Nicole Kidman - I've been told we have similar features. : )

4. If you could have high tea with anyone living or dead, what kind of tea would you drink? (Caught you off guard with that one, didn't I?? ;)

My made-from-scratch Chai.

 

5. In one word, describe your feelings at this instant.

Blue

 

6. If you and I found ourselves in jail, what would we be "in" for?

Laughing too loud.

 

7. What is your favorite kind of donut?

An old-fashion buttermilk - plain, no glaze.

8. Mine is an apple fritter. Will you bring me one?

Sure! From VooDoo?  I've never been there though.  It would be a first for me. I wonder if they have old fashioned buttermilk ones...

 

9. If you could be any kind of athletic ball, what kind would you be? Why?

One of those huge exercise balls, because I don't relish the thought of getting bounced and hit around, and those just seem to sit around in people's living rooms occasionally used as a chair.

 

10. What's your favorite form of exercise?

Dancing

11. I (apparently) want a parrot named Pooter as a pet, what kind of pet do you have/want
If I ever have a big yard, a Bernese Mountain Dog.

Okay, here are my questions for my five Liebster Award bloggers.
1. What do you value?
2. Who is your favorite artist?
3. Who do you miss the most?
4. What's the weather like where you are right now?
5. Do you remember when John Denver died?
6. If you were a body of water, what would you be and why?
7. What is your comfort food?
8. How many times have you been in love?
9. Who's blog do you absolutely love to read?
10. What are you happy about right now?
11. What do you find funny?

And the five bloggers I'd like to pass this award along to are:
1. Angela at Whole Foods Living
2. Jessica at Little Moments
3. Maria at Delight, Directed Living
4. Anne at The Shutterbug Ball
5. #1Nana at Benchmark 60

I'm looking forward to finding out more about all of you!

Z = Zen

During this A - Z challenge I highlighted many of the creative projects I've worked on over the years.  It was fun to gather them into one place to see what I've accomplished.  Did I reach a sense of Zen in doing this?  At times, yes.  There is always a restlessness to my creative spirit though, and new projects will be taken on, forgotten, picked up again, some left half-done, some a stunning success.  One never knows.  What I do know is that I will continue to connect to my creative soul in the hopes of finding a sense of peace in being the conduit for the creative spirit to express itself.

Cheers to all of you who completed the challenge this year!  Good work.

Y = Yarn crafts

I used to be really into yarn crafts.  I could sit for hours knitting a sweater, or crocheting snowflakes, or scarves, hats, wrist warmers, vests, etc. etc. etc.  I loved it, but it finally took its toll on my body.  Now days I can only work for a few minutes before having to stop due to inflammation of my arm.  It's been tough to give it up.  There are so many fun projects out there.  But I do believe my arm is meant now for some other things.  I'm looking forward to seeing what they are!

My last big project

X = Cross-back dress

This is the back of a dress I made last year.  I had had a vision of a cute jean dress, and when I went to the fabric store I found this red denim that I just couldn't resist.  Actually as excited as I was about this dress, I think the project sat on the shelf for quite some time before I finally tackled it.  I guess that happens sometimes.  My favorite part of this outfit is the back.  I like the embroidery and crossed straps, which work well over a tank top I've had for years.  The embroidered flowers up the back I'll admit were added because I needed to tack down the fabric around the zipper.  Uh-Oh!  Secret revealed!

W = Whole Lotta' Cake

Today we are celebrating my twin nephew's birthday.  There was very briefly the question of, "One cake, or two?"  Really, does this question need to be asked?  So here they are.  I'll let the pictures do the talking.  One is chocolate strawberry, the other chocolate with Kit Kats and M & M's.  I had a great time with these!

 

V = Very Buttery Vol au Vents

I was sort of stuck for the V post, and had racked my brain for some project that I had done that started with a V.  Nothing.  Then I browsed through the craft book I had picked up from the library, hoping that a project in there would inspire me to make something I could use as my V.  Nothing there either, unless I wanted to make a Valentine's locket out of a shell.  No thanks.  Not at this time.  So I got out the baking book I had also picked up at the library and found this term in the index - Vol au vents.  It means a small hollow case of puff pastry.  Perfect!  I'm not sure I'll make them again.  They were so very buttery that the butter was literally running out the bottom of the oven.  So now there is a pool of butter that I need to clean up in and outside of the oven.  They were so amazingly tasty that it was difficult to not eat the whole pan.  Another reason not to make them again.  It was worth it this one time though I suppose.