Pumpkin shortage?

Fall is officially upon us and the pumpkins are sitting  out at the grocery stores.  This year they're saying there may be a shortage of the lovely squash.  So I thought I better get around to using some fresh ones that are out there, and probably stock up on some canned pumkin for later in the winter. I've post this recipe before but I like to revisit it now and then. 

PUMPKIN SOUP
1 sugar pumpkin med size cut in half seeds removed, and roast with meat side down on foil lined baking sheet. I cook at 400 degrees for about and hour ortil  the meat is very tender.
1 can of light coconut milk
1 Tbsp approximately of mild red curry paste
1 16 oz can of chicken broth ( you can use more if soup is too thick)
additional, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/4 - 1/2 tsp coriander-ground, cayenne to taste, if you don't like ginger or coriander, not a big deal if you don't add extra.
about a quarter of finely chopped onion.
(seasoning is so up to individual, I try to not use much salt, as it is usually in the chix broth.)

Put all the ingredients into soup pan, and heat, I use and immersion blender to smooth out the pumpkin, be careful to not splash your self, or use the blender before heating the liquid. You could also put half the mixture into a regular blender and repeat with 2nd part.

Once it is all heated through serve with some yummy whole wheat french bread, and a side salad.

The Visa is here, so watch out London here she comes!

This summer has been all about getting my daughter ready for her move to London to go to school this month. Most anguishing was the visa application, and monies that needed to be provided up front. But the approval for the visa was emailed and the passport and supporting papers arrived today. A huge relief as her tickets to depart are the 16th of this month.
We've been trying to do as much as possible to get her ready for this move from the states. Unfortunately, things like banking & phone service have to be done there and in person. There a few items on the list of to do's to be done over the next week forms, transfers etc. But we couldn't do them until we had the visa.

But we have managed to get housing and roommates through the school. There's a few questions to be answered there, but its done. Then we've been doing the last minute shopping for necessities, as american dollars don't quite as far in England as they do here. But she is limited by the 2 suitcase rule, so we have 2 large suitcases and she has a back pack to wear and that's it. She gets to come home at Christmas for a few weeks, but will go back until late summer. Because of the 2012 Olympics we aren't sure she will come home this summer. It is a very major adjustment for all of us. No quick trips like I was able to arrange to/from San Francisco. Thank goodness for Skype!

What a difference a day makes or 8

Wow you know the saying "what a difference a day makes?" Well after my last series of IV Iron shots 8 of them in a row, I can say What a difference 8 days make. I finished my series of shots and about 4 days later I felt so much improved, and being able to finish a whole class of zumba workout, or my weight training class without stopping and without running out of breath. In fact one class I've been taking I want to drop because it seems so slow now, but my friends are there and I will probably continue with it for that reason. We have training class for Zumba instructors next weekend, and I'm so looking forward to it. Choreography isn't my high point but If I'm putting it together I can probably do it ok. I've been taking from 3 different teachers and they are all different and have different quirks- good and bad. Em will be great, she never struggles with choreography have been a dancer for the last 16 years. It's just like dooing another show to her. I think her challenge will be calling out steps, as you go along, since that's not what shes used to.
Counting the days until my vacation, and hoping that my iron holds through to the end of it all. I would be so sad to get the island and not be able to snorkle, swim and hit the Zip line this time.
Ever since we've moved to this house I've had one health issue after the next, starting with Melanoma, severe depression, injuring my back, injuring my shoulder, struggling with severe anemia. When this place sells and we get out of here,I will be so glad to say good bye and hope the next place has better memories. Unfortunately I don't think I will be out of here anytime soon.
We are having some lovely days- 2 in a row of weather in the mid 70's. For seattle these days thats a reason to jump up and scream happy things.
So I'm off to get out into that sun. Have a good weekend.

Working on my daughters Visa

Ack! working on the visa for student to England with my daughter.

  She filled out all the paperwork and then comes to me, I need these things: birth certificate, even though she has her passport, high school diploma, and oh yeah one must show the entire years tuition and living expenses in the bank account for 30 days prior to visa application or the loan papers.  No problem I always have a spare thirty thousand upfront.  I understand the thought behind it, but really? We've been trying to not take loans out for her education if possible. Last year she spent part of her college money while living in San Francisco and attending the conservatory there.  To show we had the moneys we had to withdraw from our 401K; I hate that, since we took it as a loan from ourselves we aren't paying taxes on it, but still it loses its earning potential during that time. Then the lovey Visa ask for your address while in country. Unfortunately- we don't have that yet. But hopefully the housing officer will be able to help us out on that. It says you can list the person helping you, and that will have to be satisfactory this time.
I know I'm being a little whiney about it. But part of that I think is the fact that I know I'm sending my only off to live so FAR away from home, and unlike when she lived in San Francisco, I don't think there will be a lot of trips in-between home and school for either of us. The poster above actually really has meaning right now in my life as we go through this process. FYI - Do you know the history of the Keep Calm poster? produced in 1939 for the British government to uplift the moral of the British peoples as they were facing World War 2. It was one of three different messages produced and hung throughout the country. Found in a bookshop in 2000, it has again become popular, and had many variations of it produced. Just a little tidbit for you today.

I can hardly believe its the 13 of july!

July 13th is my youngest brothers birthday.  Its so difficult to imagine that he is 45 this year. In my mind I still see him as a teenager most of the time, despite that he has served his country in the army, and raised a beautiful daughter. Perhaps that is because we all lived at home at the time, and when you move out you feel like everything with your parents stops growing.  I don't know.   he's the handsome one on the right with blonde hair and blue shirt.  My other brother turned 47 on the 9th of July. This picture of the 3 of us was taken in November last year.

 Oh how time has flown since my last post.  I've been working on several new hats for my etsy shop.  I will be posting these later tomorrow probably.  Trying to find a decent day for photos.  Meanwhile my basket is getting fuller.  I'm hoping to make arrangements with a local photographer to get photos in trade of some stock.  I did send a few off to a another photographer, but I haven't had any pictures returned yet.  Makes me sad, as I hoped to see something soon. 

Fourth of July was lovely, the weather was perfect, and we had friends over as did my daughter.  We still are able to set personal fireworks off so that was mandatory with my daughter and friends.  It was fun.  We made some delicious white sangria, fortified with apple brandy.  It was lovely along with the other 3 bottles of white wine we all managed to consume. 

Miss em finally got a seasonal job for the summer.  She will have about 2 months of work and looks like they are giving her about 20 hours a week.  So things are good.  Now just finalizing the visa /money situation. ugh.  Why do foreign countries think you have and entire years of living expenses and tuition sitting around in your bank account  ahead of time?  Were working ti all out, but it does crimp a thing or too until the visa is processed.

From the www.ballofyarn.etsy.com

My project this week has been a hooded scarf that is fabulous.  Its called the Enchanted hooded scarf by Karen 'abegglen and can be found  at www.ballofyarn.etsy.com
I love the romantic look of this piece and the scarf is long and wide, and the yarn is so soft and cozy. My daughter will be taking this London with her for the damp and cold winter.  She already keeps petting it and just a few more rows and it will be time sew it together and get a photo or too. Mine is done in a color called "parfait" and looks good with ginger hair. 

The sweater is FINISHED!

Finally finished and blocked the sweater I've been working on for my daughter.  The pattern is a Doris Chan's September Morn Jacket/vest.  She designed it using a Tahki cotton classic lite mercerized cotton.  I used  Panama which is a cotton, linen, viscose blend, by Rowan yarns.  The button is  made by crocheting over a plastic circle.

Since my flat pictures weren't showing much detail I threw it on the mannequin I use for tutu's.  I didn't get it on perfectly which shows more in these type of photos.  This is the first time I've made an adult size sweater.  I love the weight of this garment.

Again, it would have been so much nice to have pics of her in it, instead of the mannequin where it hangs up on every little thing being the lacy nature of it.

HOW do you get your house sold?

ARGH a little pirate speak here.  So frustrated on trying to get our house sold.  My realtor sent me a note saying that very few buyers are coming to the area overall.  We have gone through and re- stage several things, to improve the overall look.  The house is spotless. I'm actually considering painting the kitchen but no sure if I will.  Now that the weather is improving, we are working out in the yard.  I saw something that I found interesting on Today.  They suggested having 2 realtor's(from the same office) work for you, the one that sells it, gets the commission.  I'm seriously looking at this as a possibility if our house doesn't sell within the current contract.  I did send my realtor a note saying that at the end of the summer, we would probably take it off the market for a bit, so it didn't continue to look like a toad.  I mean if there's a fairy princess out there to give it a kiss by all means stop by and do your magic.   Does anyone have any good ideas for attracting buyers?