Cool site, but I got pretty frustrated with things not always working and gave up after only 5 songs. Also, how do I embed the image here? I don't just want a link...boo!
Still. Very cool.
april.fool by morgan.dunham
1.4.08
27.3.08
a rant about global warming
Maybe it's just the weather getting to me, and maybe it's all the reading about dog training (rewarding the good behaviour and ignoring the bad), but I've been doing some thinking about this winter (who hasn't, right?).
Here in Riverview, we still can't see out the end of the driveway for the height of the snowbanks. Today it's about 0 degrees (probably -3 or something with the wind chill) and it's almost April. Last winter we had barely any snow and really only needed heavy coats for about a month. So of course, everyone was in deep conversation about global warming.
Now, nobody has anything to say about it! Right now in New Brunswick, we are discussing rising costs in heating, gas and bread flour. We're hearing reports from Quebec about roofs collapsing under the weight of the snow. We're slipping on the icy sidewalks and buying "grip" things to attach to our shoes. We're worried about pedestrians who have no sidewalks to use and who might walk past the ends of our driveways while we are trying to back out around the snowbanks.
Should we not be looking at this all and saying "let's re-evaluate this global warming thing"?? Are freezing temperatures the year after unseasonably warm temperatures normal when global warming is a problem? Maybe we are all just trying too hard to understand something bigger than us: Nature. The human race thinks it is too smart to not know what's going on with Nature.
But back to the dog training thing, shouldn't we look at this year's temperatures and weather patterns with as much of a critical eye as we did last year's? It's so easy to talk about something when we think it is wrong, but what about when it's not wrong? Although, honestly I (and everyone else I talk to besides Joel) have HAD IT with winter. Be gone! Bring me some sun and sand! Bring my driveway back...it's a skating rink right now! "All" I ask is a few days of above-zero weather.
Here in Riverview, we still can't see out the end of the driveway for the height of the snowbanks. Today it's about 0 degrees (probably -3 or something with the wind chill) and it's almost April. Last winter we had barely any snow and really only needed heavy coats for about a month. So of course, everyone was in deep conversation about global warming.
Now, nobody has anything to say about it! Right now in New Brunswick, we are discussing rising costs in heating, gas and bread flour. We're hearing reports from Quebec about roofs collapsing under the weight of the snow. We're slipping on the icy sidewalks and buying "grip" things to attach to our shoes. We're worried about pedestrians who have no sidewalks to use and who might walk past the ends of our driveways while we are trying to back out around the snowbanks.
Should we not be looking at this all and saying "let's re-evaluate this global warming thing"?? Are freezing temperatures the year after unseasonably warm temperatures normal when global warming is a problem? Maybe we are all just trying too hard to understand something bigger than us: Nature. The human race thinks it is too smart to not know what's going on with Nature.
But back to the dog training thing, shouldn't we look at this year's temperatures and weather patterns with as much of a critical eye as we did last year's? It's so easy to talk about something when we think it is wrong, but what about when it's not wrong? Although, honestly I (and everyone else I talk to besides Joel) have HAD IT with winter. Be gone! Bring me some sun and sand! Bring my driveway back...it's a skating rink right now! "All" I ask is a few days of above-zero weather.
19.2.08
6.2.08
ratty
Tomorrow, my first foray into Chinese cooking (besides fried rice...although I will probably make that too). People born in the year of the rat are said to be leaders and conquerors, they are intelligent, versatile and charming. Although they do tend toward more negative traits such as controlling, vengeful and power-driven. Apparently, the Western zodiac equivalent is Sagittarius (my sign!).
10.12.07
17.11.07
children see
Seeing too many stupid people lately...I have been thinking this way a lot. Pretty hard to watch actually.
29.10.07
18.10.07
people and their breakfasts
An interesting photo project by John Huck. I love it. But I have to say it is too bad about the scrolling issues. I mean, having to scroll down just a teeny bit to see the whole frame. But I am enthralled by this project, I love it.
6.10.07
colour . like no other
Awesome!!!
I've been waiting for this for a long time, since I heard they were going to be doing another Bravia commercial after the paint one and the bouncy ball one.
Sony Bravia Play Doh commercial
I've been waiting for this for a long time, since I heard they were going to be doing another Bravia commercial after the paint one and the bouncy ball one.
Sony Bravia Play Doh commercial
1.10.07
Double Pumpkin Muffins
*note* I made these today without the streusel topping because I like a muffin to be more like bread and less like dessert. I also used all "best for bread" whole wheat flour and applesauce instead of butter (equal substitution amount). They are fabulous!
But here is the recipe as printed in Autumn 2007 Food&Drink, a magazine put out by the LCBO:
Streusel Topping
2/3 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. icing sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 c. butter, melted
1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/4 c. green (raw) pumpkin seeds
Muffins
1/2 c. green (raw) pumpkin seeds
3 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. granulated sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp each ground nutmeg and all-spice
1 small or 1/2 large orange
1 egg
1 c. pure pumpkin puree (not pie filling!)
1 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 c. butter, melted
Icing sugar for garnish, optional.
1. To make streusel, stir flour with icing sugar and baking powder. Stir in melted butter and vanilla until moist crumbs form. Set aside with pumpkin seeds.
2. To make muffins, preheat oven to 375F.
3. Coat 12 standard muffin tin cups liberally with nonstick spray or butter, including top of pan for easy release of large muffins. Spread 1/2 c. pumpkin seeds on a shiny baking tray; bake for 5 to 6 minutes or until a few seeds turn colour. Cool on a rack.
4. Meanwhile, stir flour with sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices. Make a well. Finely grate zest from orange and squeeze 1/4 c. juice. Lightly beat egg; stir in pumpkin puree, buttermilk, juice, vanilla and zest.
5. Stir pumpkin mixture and butter into flour until mostly moistened. Then stir in toasted pumpkin seeds until well mixed; divide batter among cups, heaping slightly in centre (batter completely fills cups). Sprinkle with raw pumpkin seeds; then liberally with streusel crumbs. Press seeds and crumbs gently into muffin tops.
6. Bake in centre of preheated oven for 25 to 28 minutes or until a cake tester or skewer (or linguine!!!!) inserted into muffin centre comes out clean and tops are lightly golden. Rest on cooling rack for 5 minutes; then lift each muffin out of pan onto rack. Cool completely; to serve, lightly sieve a spoonful of icing sugar over muffin tops, if desired.
Makes 12 large muffins.
**Morgan's Tips**
Other than my substitutions (apple sauce for butter, whole wheat for white flour, and I didn't measure the OJ, I just squeezed til it was gone) I did press green pumpkin seeds into the tops of these (it makes them so pretty!). I also doubled this recipe well and it makes LARGE muffins, that's for sure. I made 24 plus one in a mini loaf pan! I filled the cups to the top and heaped more than a "slight" amount. I think my oven is quite hot so these cooked fully in under 25 minutes (more like 22) so just watch them. These taste delicious warmed with some peanut butter!!!
But here is the recipe as printed in Autumn 2007 Food&Drink, a magazine put out by the LCBO:
Streusel Topping
2/3 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. icing sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 c. butter, melted
1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/4 c. green (raw) pumpkin seeds
Muffins
1/2 c. green (raw) pumpkin seeds
3 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. granulated sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp each ground nutmeg and all-spice
1 small or 1/2 large orange
1 egg
1 c. pure pumpkin puree (not pie filling!)
1 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 c. butter, melted
Icing sugar for garnish, optional.
1. To make streusel, stir flour with icing sugar and baking powder. Stir in melted butter and vanilla until moist crumbs form. Set aside with pumpkin seeds.2. To make muffins, preheat oven to 375F.
3. Coat 12 standard muffin tin cups liberally with nonstick spray or butter, including top of pan for easy release of large muffins. Spread 1/2 c. pumpkin seeds on a shiny baking tray; bake for 5 to 6 minutes or until a few seeds turn colour. Cool on a rack.
4. Meanwhile, stir flour with sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices. Make a well. Finely grate zest from orange and squeeze 1/4 c. juice. Lightly beat egg; stir in pumpkin puree, buttermilk, juice, vanilla and zest.
5. Stir pumpkin mixture and butter into flour until mostly moistened. Then stir in toasted pumpkin seeds until well mixed; divide batter among cups, heaping slightly in centre (batter completely fills cups). Sprinkle with raw pumpkin seeds; then liberally with streusel crumbs. Press seeds and crumbs gently into muffin tops.
6. Bake in centre of preheated oven for 25 to 28 minutes or until a cake tester or skewer (or linguine!!!!) inserted into muffin centre comes out clean and tops are lightly golden. Rest on cooling rack for 5 minutes; then lift each muffin out of pan onto rack. Cool completely; to serve, lightly sieve a spoonful of icing sugar over muffin tops, if desired.
Makes 12 large muffins.
**Morgan's Tips**
Other than my substitutions (apple sauce for butter, whole wheat for white flour, and I didn't measure the OJ, I just squeezed til it was gone) I did press green pumpkin seeds into the tops of these (it makes them so pretty!). I also doubled this recipe well and it makes LARGE muffins, that's for sure. I made 24 plus one in a mini loaf pan! I filled the cups to the top and heaped more than a "slight" amount. I think my oven is quite hot so these cooked fully in under 25 minutes (more like 22) so just watch them. These taste delicious warmed with some peanut butter!!!
25.6.07
pixelz.pins.phabric
I just came across this awesome line of jewelry by Mike and Maaike. This would be great wedding jewelry I think! It's too funny.
I've been getting a crafty itch lately since most of my time is spent working or wedding planning, neither of which is very crafty. I did make a strawberry-rhubarb pie yesterday, which helped relieve this somewhat but I still need to make something un-edible.
So speaking of jewelry, I poked around a little on ReadyMade this morning and found a couple neat little projects.
"Do you ever find that you buy pins and buttons but never get around to wearing them? Try sewing this button-filled cuff bracelet to show them off."
"If you regularly sew or craft, you probably have a huge amount of remnant fabric and scraps lying around. Instead of throwing these away, why not turn them into a necklace?"
I've been getting a crafty itch lately since most of my time is spent working or wedding planning, neither of which is very crafty. I did make a strawberry-rhubarb pie yesterday, which helped relieve this somewhat but I still need to make something un-edible.
So speaking of jewelry, I poked around a little on ReadyMade this morning and found a couple neat little projects.
"Do you ever find that you buy pins and buttons but never get around to wearing them? Try sewing this button-filled cuff bracelet to show them off."
"If you regularly sew or craft, you probably have a huge amount of remnant fabric and scraps lying around. Instead of throwing these away, why not turn them into a necklace?"
19.6.07
5.6.07
Harry-est + One Sentence
1. I can't even imagine what madness will consume the city of Falls Church, Virginia on July 21, 2007.
The Harry-est chart.
2. "I spent $130 and 4 hours getting ready for a party that I only spent a half hour at because my insecurities got the best of me."
One sentence.
The Harry-est chart.
2. "I spent $130 and 4 hours getting ready for a party that I only spent a half hour at because my insecurities got the best of me."
One sentence.
30.4.07
7.4.07
5.4.07
Fantastic
There are a few things in life I love: good food; good friends...criticizing popular culture, especially that which demeans and objectifies women; actually listening to the words in hip hop songs; canadian music and last but not least, parodies. I'd have to say this about sums it up:
4.4.07
among other things
While browsing what is new at Fred Flare right now, I thought I would post the few hings that caught my eyeBALL. Just for fun, you know.
Awesome kitchy things, as always. The plate with seashell creatures belongs at a seafood party with beer and mussels and lobster and more beer. As for the earrings, I don't see a day where they wouldn't be appropriate. And the other thingies are travel toothbrush holders...something I don't have, something I'd like and in this case...aww, matching his and hers!!!
Awesome kitchy things, as always. The plate with seashell creatures belongs at a seafood party with beer and mussels and lobster and more beer. As for the earrings, I don't see a day where they wouldn't be appropriate. And the other thingies are travel toothbrush holders...something I don't have, something I'd like and in this case...aww, matching his and hers!!!
29.3.07
The Design Disease
I know I have The Design Disease. I'm not afraid to admit it. It explains a lot. So much collecting, documenting, obsessing. I hope I can use this as an excuse...
22.3.07
muffins!
I promised Rob I'd post my "world famous" banana muffin recipe on here. Trust me, everyone agrees that this is the best-ever recipe for these things. I know someone who had the recipe and lost it and after 5 years of not contacting me or my mom (because we moved away) called to get it again. Once you've had it you can't go back! And don't forget the water!!
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
makes 2 dozen muffins
3 c. flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 c. butter or margarine
2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp water
2 c. mashed bananas
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 pkg chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix together flour, salt and baking soda; set aside. Melt butter. Mix with sugar until blended. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Add bananas, vanilla and water. Fold in flour and chocolate chips. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes (sometimes more, just watch til they are golden).
Enjoy!!!
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