old lady past-times

last week i bought plants at the farmer's market in blatant disregard for my apartment management's policy forbidding things on the back stairs - it is a fire hazard.  an over-the-rail planter is most definitely a fire hazard..wait what?  mind you.  this is the "emergency escape" that is awkwardly narrow and made of wood.  thats right.  wood.  which.. burns?  in fires?  oh.  but its from the 50's.  so its been treated with all kinds of horrible carcinogens which will emerge whilst undergoing chemical change - ie flaming.  but i digress. 

exactly 7 days later look at my friggin plants!!

2 thai basil and 6 regular [a little crowded i know..]

thyme, sage, and 4 rosemarys.  no parsley.  sorry garfunkel.

gratuitous kitty

i call this one: rainy day kitters

vege spring rolls

experimental spring roll success! 

new sewing stuffs

i thrifted this a last month even though its a smidge too small across the chest.  obviously not cos i have ginormous boobs.  its just a smaller size.  but i liked the color and the rest of the dress.  anywho.  i cut about an inch off the sleeves, a good 8" from the skirt, and removed the lapels from the collar. 

i also removed the sleeves from this top thrifted back in february [apparently].  as with most button-down shirts it just wasnt quite right and removal of the sleeves allows it to fit better without pulling across the back.  i pretty much am not built to wear pants or store bought tailored shirts. 

stuff ive been doing

frank made a new friend.  and/or faced off with a squirrel and possibly lost.  idk how to really determine the winner as frank eventually flailed enough in the window and door that the squirrel ran away, but not after the squirrel gave a severe chittering/berating and some tail lashings.  then again, frank gets a comfy apartment, food, and water.  instead of eventually ending up roadkill...

miso salsa salmon

was it glamorous?  certainly not.  was it tasty?  most definitely.  was it a wee bit too salty?  ....perhaps.

liz's laundry

i'm not really sure why this outfit garnered me such weird looks at the grocery store.  its a dress with a sweater..

• sweater: thrifted
• dress: macys
• leggings: charlotte russe

choco chip almond banana muffins

as is often the case, i bought bananas with the intent of eating them.  i forgot.  and they got all nasty and spotty.  whilst perusing the joy of cooking i came across a recipe for banana nut muffins.  not a huge walnut fan and i dont actually have any in the house at the moment.  plus 6 tablespoons of oil for 12 muffins seems a bit excessive and their alternative was a reduction to 2... without a reduction in dry ingredients.  it sounded ...chalky.  and gross.  so i substituted greek yogurt. 

ridiculous goodwill spree

the neutrals:

semi wooly mixed animal print dress, white tee, talbots and anne klein pants

the brights:

very retro dress that i will be de-sleeving, a silky top, an overly bright skirt to shorten, and a 70s homemade dress that has a hole in it.  ...i may cut off the bottom and make a ruffle instead.  still deciding.

third verse, same as the first

3 dresses in 3 weeks.  must be some sort of record for me.  and/or temporary unemployment. 

anywho.  same cheapy new look pattern [different view than before] and a coordinating brandon mably print that matches with this one but is sold out on fabric.com.  sleeveless, boat neck in front, and as it turns out i didnt have a coordinating 22" zipper.  so i used a 14" brown zipper.  still not really coordinating but i actually made a zipper flap cos i am getting that awesome. 

happy.  angry.  whatever.

i also adjusted the back neckline so it wasnt as gapey.  that involved readjusting the facing as well.  ack.  but the zipper goes up about 2/3 of the way and i added a hook at the top.  pretty sure the kick pleat is a little more even than the pic shows, but it may not be. 

ive been told im sassy.  the last pic is either sassy or angry.  i def lean toward the 2nd more often..

choco chip bourbon bread pudding

what to do with slightly old portuguese sweet rolls?  make bread pudding!  now i like pudding.  and i like bread.  but i do not like my bread pudding super squishy at the bottom.  and oven water baths are a pain in my ass.  so i modified the recipe. 

bread pudding [modified from joy of cooking]:
6-8 oz bread - cubed
1 egg
1 C milk
1/2 C sugar
2 teas vanilla
1 T bourbon
dash of cinnamon and ground cloves
1/4 C dark chocolate chips

mix all ingredients with immersion blender but bread and chocolate.  grease bread pan and add bread cubes and chocolate.  pour egg mixture over and ensure all cubes have been adequately drenched.  bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until the sides are deliciously bubbly. 

completed: another dress

pattern: thrifted for $1.99.  never even been unfolded.  my size pattern called for 2 1/4 yards of fabric.  i made do with 2 yards.  no sash. 

cutting all the pieces.  usually the difficult time consuming part.

liz's laundry

not gonna lie.  the neck scarf made me feel a bit flight attendanty and the big wooly sweater didnt seem very work appropriate.  so i actually wore the outfit on the right. 

• blazer, wooly sweater, neck scarf: thrifted
• floral top: marshalls
• skirt: kohls
• tights and heeled oxfords: target
• tank: old navy

sparkle mouse memorial service

i already posted these on fb with a moving [probably offensive] little homage and eulogy to frank's beloved sparkle mouse.  thus i offer them here without comment.

two lights

cape elizabeth.  not named after me.  sigh.  a former roommate and a neighbor visited me a few weeks ago now.  i have yet to post pics except on the fb.  but here are some highlights from the phone and the camera

mixed feelings and dhal

not to be confused with roald dahl the author.  poor spelling abilities.  cest moi.

i have fallen victim to picture apps.  its a slippery slope that began with pixlr-o-matic that i downloaded to my home computer.  ridiculously easy to use, save and share.

then it was a fancy phone that takes reliably focused pics.

then i remembered id seen a post on "phoneography" which i do not believe is art.  neither is instagram.  or fb.  and generally half of flickr is crap.  but i digress.

and i sold out.  and downloaded instagram.  and picframe.  and diptic.

and i made delicious lentil curry.