So I tried a new look

And I just didn't like it and I have gone back to the simple template minus all the orange. I guess I have to come up with my own design.  I've thinking about for a while. And since I've trying to get better at html and css, I guess this is my chance. Stay tune for more rounds of changes [ha ha, just like work].

Since I have your attention I wanted share what I've up to. Nothing earth-shattering, just my normal stuff I've been fitting in between work and the restaurant. The hardest part is to remember to take the pictures [and figuring out the new camera. not liking how the images look].

Knitting

I've trying to make a few things for me [haven't finished anything yet this summer]. Love colors of Koigu PPPM and bought some this earlier this summer in green/orange/pink combination, kind of neon. Making a shawlette, in a kind of simple lace pattern. Thought it was complicated enough to keep my interest and easier enough that I would be lost if [always] put down for a while. I already ripped the whole thing apart once. Second try, I'm using stitch marker to keep track better [yes, I'm using paper clips as markers--at least they're the color ones]. I hope it works.

Cooking

Jam! Been making it all summer for the restaurant, family, friends and a little bit for me. I've been using it in my breakfast yogurt. Luckily I still enjoy doing it. Although this last batch of peach jam, was a bit labor intensive [no more non-freestone peaches for me]. Got 5 half pints and 3 minis. It was really good. I think the combination of the slight tartness of the non-freestone peaches from my friend's tree and the super sweetness of the yellow peaches from the farmers market is what made it so delicious. Just finished a batch of strawberry--customers favorite. And will make another batch of plum this weekend. The last batch of plum I made was so sweet and good. The plums were at the perfect moment to make the jam. I just got some italian plums, I hope this batch turns our just a good or better.



This is a picture of the special dessert we been serving at the restaurant. Strawberry sorbet and Orange "Guri Guri" with fresh fruit. One of the many things that I've been using my ice cream maker for this summer: Ice cream, sorbets and "Guri Guri"  [hawaiian-style sherbet]. I think this hot and humid summer had a lot of influence for that. Most of it has been for the restaurant, but I made raspberry ice cream for home with some farmers market raspberries. Been trying to find the time again to make some ice cream for home. Yummmm!

Not to much baking since my family left in the beginning of the summer. Just the staples for the restaurant. I been dying to try out some recipes. Since the weather is getting cooler, it probably a good time to try it. On my list, a chocolate chip cookie that's been calling me, a cinnamon cake with gooey chocolate frosting [which I made this weekend and is sooo delicious] and blueberry cake that I hope taste as good as it looks [I know off season but just found the recipe and it looks so good]. 

Watching
With all this food making there is a lot of time spent waiting for thing to be done and I've been using that time knitting and catching up on movies and TV that I've missed out on [late joiners to netflix--streaming]. Currently watching Breaking Bad. Once I catch up with that, I'm going to start Downton Abbey. 

Monday is a early night, no dinner [yah!] and that's movie night for us. Don't remember what was the last thing we saw in a theater [I think it was Avatar]. So far we've seen: Drive, Mao's Last Ballet Dancer, Captain America, and Super 8. I know they're so old movies but remember what I last movie we saw.

Reading
Like my knitting, I have many books and magazine articles going at the same time. This is the reason why it takes me so long to finish reading a book. But this is what been keeping my interest these days. Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, to inspire me to get moving. Just started Mrs. Robinson's Disgrace by Kate Summerscale, thought it would be fun summer reading but been slow out the gate. Hope I it gets going soon. And sitting on my night table next to the bed is Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern [End of night reading in bed is bad for me. Always fall asleep and need to re-read the same paragraph over and over]. 

What I've been really reading is my collection of NYT magazines. Brought a bunch with me on vacation and I'm almost caught up--just 2 more left in the house. Then all them get sent off to my Mom who really enjoys them. The Sunday NYT goes to the restaurant and there must be a fan of the magazine there because for the past several weeks there is no magazine to be found. :(

Well that's it for now. Not bad for a post I started about the design of my blog. One day, I'll tackle that but for now, why fix something that's not broke--sort of.

Sheep, Llamas, Alpacas, Bunnies and more

Last Sunday i was off to spend the day @ the NJ Sheep and Fiber Festival in Ringoes, NJ. It was beautiful Sunday [after and crazy rainy Saturday] looking at sheep, llamas, alpacas, bunnies and lots of fiber. It's much smaller that the one Rhinebeck, NY but it was fun, comfortably crowded and a lot shorter drive . 

I've been a little antsy

and feel like a need a change. For now, it's a just a template change, more of a clean look for the time being. I'm hoping I can find some time to learn more html/css to make this more of me, not some right out of the can. 

Sharing 2 posts that thought you may like:

Frosting colors from a basic box of food coloring
Haven't been making cake too much these days. And most of the frosting has been cream cheese but one day this may come in handy when I need that perfect shade of peach for special cupcake.

No Cook Refrigerator Oatmeal

Been trying to eat more healthy these days and lately my breakfast has been oatmeal with yogurt, dried fruit and a dollop of my homemade jam. It's a gooey messy but delicious and filling. This post is almost exactly what I'm eating but not cooking my oatmeal first. And they mention Chia seeds. Just read about it in "Born to Run". I think I may have to try this. 

And a picture of my tomato jam. Took a long time for these 6 little jars. But I think that what makes a perfect gift--something homemade with a lots of love. Sweet and a little bit of spice. Hope everyone enjoys them.

Mind Reading

Since when did this become the most important skill to have. I've never seen it in a job description but apparently it is the most important "skill" to have in my job. And where can I take a class in it [I wonder if they offer it as a telecourse]. Here I thought it was a gift and only special people had it but now it seems to be a requirement. 

Oh yes, bad day at work. All I've done for the past 5 1/2 hours is change, change and more change. [oh I did run out to pee once and once to grab lunch but the rest of the time it has been stuck to my computer. And I wonder why my shoulder hurt so bad] And if I had mind those mind reading skills, my life would be so much less stressful. 

I should have gone out for a walk a 1/2 hour ago to work out some of this stress. Oh, well back to work--what other craziness do I have in store for the next 2 hours. 

More from Switzerland Vacation

I only took pictures with my iphone. But WG took tons of pictures with the camera. But I still have to upload them to my flickr acct. This is what I took with the iphone.

After a long day of train rides, [high point: on the Glacial Express through the mountains, low point: our last train no air condition, sitting on the sunny side of the train], we arrived at Lausanne, Switzerland. Did I mention it was hot like NJ? Thank goodness the hotel was close by, walking distance from the train station, nice size and decent air condition. We cooled off a bit and took a tour of Old Town via Rick Steve's walking tour. 

I've already shared few pictures from Lausanne. These are just random stuff I liked. I guess I had orange and green on my mind.

The flora from my vacation

I'm doing my catch up baking for the restaurant. As I wait for the cupcakes to be done, I thought I'd posted more pics from the vacation. For some reason, I took a lot of pictures of flowers. Hmmm . . . could this stem from my critter-eaten zinnas experience this summer? I wish my flower garden looked half this good. 

Water fountain from Old Town, Lausanne

Here's a little teaser of my Switzerland vacation

Just got back from my whirlwind vacation to Switzerland. I can feel I'm going to be very busy in the coming weeks and wanted to share a couple of pictures before I totally get overwhelm with my life again.

Lausanne--View of old town with Lake Geneva in the background.