Basset Boil

While working towards my goal of cooking more, I realized one thing. Boils are easy. You boil some water, add some spices and chopped up food, and that's it! Enter, my first shrimp boil.

The picture isn't that descriptive as I didn't think to take one until I was putting away the leftovers but it was very easy to do and tasted phenomenal. 

Ingredients:

1 pound thawed shrimp

1 pound Andouille sausage, chopped up into 2 inch segments

3 corn cobs broken into three pieces

About 7 miniature potatoes in approximately 1 inch segments

Boil spices (can be found at the store, I used a shrimp/crab one) 

The next step is to boil a large pot of water with the spices and everything but the shrimp in it. Then, when it's all about cooked (test the potatoes) you throw in the shrimp and let it boil for 2 to 5 minutes. Don't add them too early or else they'll be chewy.

The second thing tonight is a miniature craft project. I have some masses growing in my right forearm and they cause swelling and a lot of pain with pressure so I've been wimping out about exercise. No more, I say!

My solution? The workout jar.

Components:

Empty candle jar (one of my DC's)

Washi tape

Letter stickers (if desired)

Without the lid.

With the lid, and a dollar for today's workout!

I'm not sure what my reward will be when I reach $100, but I will be sure to let you know.

And now, for the Basset picture, one that could melt an icecap.

I think she was about 2 months old for in this picture

May showers bring Basset flowers?

As I surf the ideas pinned on Pinterest, I am always drawn to the multiple piece crafts. This particular picture caught my eye some time ago but I don't really feel up to finding a bunch of fabrics and really meshing it into the room's decor. Then I saw this post by CraftSnob (the picture leads back to a Flickr as well) and decided to mesh them into a nature scene. I have done the majority of the first piece, a hoop of a cloud, during my precious minutes while all of the fur babies were asleep, some snoring right next to me.

3 inch hoop

They will be a collection of 3 and 6 inch hoops, with different nature scenes constructed from buttons and various thread. My focus will be on the buttons and I will be trying not to use thread as anything but accents.

Below is wordy and not craft related, just fyi :)

Today, after I got home from a taxing time at physical therapy, I read a touching post by Oh the lovely things. She lists several things about herself, many of which I identify with. So here goes my attempt, as my reason for this blog is to share all parts of my life, not just the crafting ones.


Blah insights:
1. I am afraid of failure to the point that I cause it just to be able to say that it is intentional. Self sabotage has been the name of my game for several years now, with anywhere from skipping out on attending meetings so that my results won't be called into question to stubbornly refusing to study for extremely important tests, not the least is one for promotion.

2. I dig up the pasts of others and judge them for it. Some people may change, some may not, but I feel that the past is an indicator and sadly have allowed it to affect my relationships. I am working towards being able to forget the pasts of others.

3. I am so unhappy sometimes that I attempt to make up for it with volunteering. The problem is that sometimes, in the course of animal rescue, the dog or cat is euthanized while you are attempting to save it and it opens the floodgates of feeling inadequate. A life is lost and I feel that is my duty to mourn it since in my mind, I failed it.

4. I have been diagnosed with a condition in my knee that means that I may never be without pain. Main days, bending or straightening it causes extreme pain but I am forced to act as if it doesn't to be able to mend my ankle. I frequently get depressed about this small deficiency and am ashamed of that fact.

5.  I am afraid that I'll never be in a lifelong happy relationship with a committed spouse.

6. I get nervous to the point of small panic attacks but I won't go and get it diagnosed as the idea makes me nervous enough to have a panic attack. It's slightly funny when it's not happening.

7. My sense of humor is frequently off putting to other people. It makes the amount of true friends few and far between.

8. I cry when I strongly experience any emotion, including anger.


 Happy/silly insights:

1. I let the house get messy because I like the feeling of organizing things. My mom always teased me for it but I like organizing items into piles and then putting them away. GG hates it :)

2. More times than naught, I feel a burst of pride when I put on my uniform to go to work. 

3. Seeing a dog smile always makes me smile.

4. I drink certain energy drinks for their taste alone and sometimes I actually dislike that they have caffeine.

5. I like ordering different hand made soaps and trying out different artisans.

6. I am attempting to not get addicted to Diamond Candles, but I've already ordered my second one (the green apple one smells great!).

7. I like people watching.

8. If it is a choice between chocolate and another flavor, chocolate is the eternal winner.

Last but not least, I alluded to a new family member so I present to you Lil' Bit Kabir Butters!!!

This sweet guy is estimated to be at least 11 years old, is blind in one eye, is partially lame due to knee problems, has very few teeth left, and bless his little soul loves to mark everything that he can. The first day that we had him was spent correcting this behavior inside and watching him mark the entire backyard twice (took a few hours each time).

We have decided to belly band him while we're training that little habit out but love his stinky butt to death already. He is such a grumpy old man that the first few days were filled with snarls and attempts at biting but he has now settled down and only gets grouchy when it's late at night. 

More on him later as I am just in love with this little old senior. Poor guy had a hard life with a hoarder but GG and I are happy that we can give him a retirement home filled with love and happiness.

Last but not least, Addie's sad face about the fact that three begging dogs STILL doesn't get them table scraps.

Bassetting requires rest

As mentioned before, I had ankle surgery at the end of last month and I have been resting with my girls, and no one rests like a Basset. Bassets are the masters of this because they need it during their crazy fits of energy, running up and down the hallway and leaping through the air after their toys.

The blue bed is for Jeni and that darker area in the corner is her fur (it's hard vacuuming on crutches) where she has to sleep when Addie is in her bed.

On to crafts, I have had the opportunity to start and finish a few. I forgot to get my camera from the other room for the processes. The following are some of the things that I did.

 

This is a scarf I crocheted. It ended up being for Jeni even though Addie wants the attention for wearing it. I crocheted it with a random 5 or 6 hook and some yarn I had laying around from Walmart. Then, I took one of the extra buttons that come with your clothing in that little plastic baggy and sewed the ends together using it. It only lasted about 5 days and then Jeni started chewing on it.

 

We have learned that Addie has a penchant for crafting supplies and so we needed a quick solution to my scattered belongings in the living room. We found this old suitcase at a Salvation Army at a little over 3 dollars thanks to a half off sale (score!) and I decoupaged several paper doilies (10 for a little over $1) on both sides after cleaning it off. I am still working on finding fabric that I like well enough to replace the inside plain brown material.

 

This scarf was crocheted for Addie using a variation of the double stitch and secured in the same way as Jeni's, using an extra button from a purchased shirt.

 

Here's my first knitted piece, a washcloth, using the simple single stitch. The little flecks help to hide the imperfections that were caused by my inexperience.

 

This is my spring wreath that I meant to be hung up on my sheltered front stoop or somewhere in the house. I like having contrasts of the same things but not in equal portions. This is where my supplies fell on Addie's wrong side, as she seems to savor fake flowers. I bought several flower bunches from Michael's at $1.99 and one of the big pink flowers at $2.99. I also got a few sprigs of leaves that I affixed onto a wood wreath with super craft glue as well as wove them into the branches. They can also be hot glued in, but I don't like using hot glue over carpet (something about the guns burning the carpet, I know, crazy).

Right now, I'm crocheting a scarf as well as knitting another scarf on large needles (I) while I'm trying to figure out what next I should do with some new typewriter font stamps, pastel stamp pads, and decorative paper.

Last thought, who doesn't love craft shopping the clearance rack after a holiday? It's amazing!

And now, a few pictures of my prides and joys, one actually fitting in the other one's bed.