Fantastic Mr. Fox

Jonathan was going to go as the Fantastic Mr. Fox for Halloween. Then I decided it would be cute for Kyle and I to be Mr. and Mrs. Fox and for him to be Ash. So, I made him an Ash costume instead, and then Mr. and Mrs. Fox costumes didn't happen. . . 

Boo!

Jonathan is going to be a George Clooney character for halloween. Can you guess which one?

My imaginary family

I just went imaginary shopping for my imaginary family that lives in Europe and has money. 

Apparently dad is a gypsy and is going barefoot.http://www.livieandluca.com/shop.html

Extreme Home Makeover - Joplin

Really glad to see that 7 homes are being build in Joplin for victims of the Tornado.

Scratching my head that they were not built with basements or tornado shelters.

Coat

From the woman who taught me how to sew:

Two Nuns Bike by Ron Arad from Dezeen on Vimeo.

Butternut Squash and Caramel Onion Galette with Toasted Pecan Topping

Made these little lovies for "Appetizers and Dessert" at RC last night. Liked them so much that I had another for breakfast this morning.

I followed this recipe over at smitten kitchen. Well, I changed a few things. I think I used more squash and cheese than the recipe called for and less onion (also, I think twice as much onion really would have overpowered the flavor of the squash) - just because that is what I had. I also used rosemary and marjoram instead of sage, and black pepper instead of cayenne pepper, because I do not have those two things.  I also garnished the top with butter roasted pecans.

As far as technique went, I used an electric blender instead of a pastry blender. Never having been a big fan of the pastry blender and not owning one in my adult life, I opted instead to hack up a bar of already frozen butter (which I also like to call luck. . . without that box of butter in my freezer this recipe would have taken me 3 hours. . . instead of 2) and toss it in my blender, then I added the "course meal" size bits to the flower/salt mixture, and viola! It was the exact same texture as what I used to get with my mom's pastry blender and it only took about 30 seconds.

I also opted to make 11 small galettes, instead of two large ones (I doubled the recipe).

I think I will make this for Thanksgiving this year, being careful to start early so that I can finish on time.

Jonathan also had butternut squash for breakfast, his was accompanied with notes of pear. OOhh, la la.

PS - Friend, in case you are wondering, these do not taste like they have vegetables in them. . . Kyle ate them (2) .

Britex

We just got back from a trip to the San Francisco area. Highlight of the trip? Britex Fabric. . . 

On the left you see a lovely black and brown knit wool and on the right a nice medium weight silk/wool blend. Plans? Shift dress w/ kimono sleeve and some sort of high waist pencil skirt.

Time to get my boots out!

Abortion

Some people are rolling their eyes, others already shaking their heads in approval.

I know I have friends on both sides of the abortion table. It is safe to say that many of them have arrived at their conclusions by using their brains and putting a lot of thought into it.

For a little while, I thought it was okay if someone other than me wanted to have an abortion, I thought, "Hey, it's their choice. People who commit other heinous crimes also have a choice too do or not to do - and some people get away with it - sometimes the government even lets them get away with it." I'm sure there are plenty of war crimes in our past that are not attractive, and that were "sanctioned" by the government, but, in general, the government does not sanction murder - except when it comes to babies. Edit: I am not comparing a woman who has had an abortion to a war criminal. I am saying that, within reason, the government has the power to keep these things from happening, but they turn a blind eye.


That's pretty sad. Voluntary euthanasia is only legal in 3 U.S. states. Someone is saying, "please, kill me, I want to die," and we aren't even allowed to give them their wish. Yet, it's not a big deal to kill someone who is completely at your mercy, someone who cannot defend themselves yet.

"Caitlyn, you are crazy! Abortions don't kill babies - those aren't babies that are in women's wombs. Those are fetus's or an embryo or a blastocyst or a zygote!"

It has always felt like life to me. And when that life is inside of you it's like your soul has added on a great big huge addition. It's wonderful! (I know not all women feel like this) When that soul is extinguished, it's not just the addition that gets knocked down. . . instead, the entire structure is condemned and torn down.

I watched this film today, and it is really what changed my mind about how to vote when it comes to abortion. Do I think change will ever come to America? Probably not (unless the Mormon's take over, which they are forecasted to do in about 2080 because of sheer population), but, it's possible. If people understood what life really is, than I believe that change would have to happen. Because once you really truly grasp what life is, the thought of extinguishing it for any reason, no matter how extenuating, becomes unbearable.



And just to clear anything up that might be out there. No, I would not kill Hitlers mother to get to Hitler. No, I do not hate people who have gotten an abortion. I understand that the thought of bringing another person into the world can seem unbearable, and that you can feel so overwhelmed and unprepared. I do not think that you are ever outside of the grace of God. Don't murder is just one of the commandments, there are 9 others that get broken just as often. All of which need to be addressed.

tour de France