Wonder box

Just before Christmas I decided to make my husband a Wonder Box. He built an 18 foot sailboat which we take to Lake Powell every year. And I thought it would be nice to be able to cook as we traveled.

The box is fabric and filled with the small Styrofoam balls you use in bean bag chairs. The pattern can be found here. The cool thing about these is you can start your meal cooking on your stove at home, or on your open fire at the campground, but then if you need to move on, it can be placed aboard (or in the car) and it will continue to cook.

Today, for the first time, Sailor used it. He made some chili for work. They all celebrate Cinco de Mayo and bring some South-of-the-border cuisine for a pot luck lunch. Before work, this morning, he mixed all the ingredients and got it cooking. But chili tastes better if it simmers and steeps all the flavors together, so he packed it away in the Wonder Box in the back seat of his car and headed to work.

This picture shows it continuing to cook in his cubicle. I'm sure the administration building has some wonderful aroma wafting around today. I wonder if anyone followed the scent and found the source?

It was pretty simple to make. I got the Styrofoam beads from JoAnn Fabrics online. I got a free shipping coupon so the total was the cost of the beads, which was about $18. I used fabric I had on hand.

Hope this helps someone out there. What a fun invention.
~a

WIP 18 Sep 2009

Latest projects, Works in Progress.
The blue blocks are for a charity quilt being made by Heidi over at Pottery and Everything Else. She is the one who made the beautiful doll quilt and check book cover for me.

Starting a Short & Sassy lime green purse for my niece. She had a Catholic Confirmation this summer and I am proud of her.

Who knew you could knit two socks at once on one circular needle? This yarn is bamboo yarn. I purchased it this summer when we went to San Jose. I found it in a Yarn store in nearby Campbell. Green Planet Yarn is a fun store and really inspired me.





The Wonky Star is for Amanda Jean over at Crazy Mom Quilts. She is making a quilt or two for Quilts of Valor.

If you are interested in helping either Heidi or Amanda Jean on either of these good causes hurry on over and see if they still need some help.





Lastly on my way to choir, I noticed an amazing thunderhead cloud. I aimed and just took a shot while I drove. I didn't even know if I was getting it or not, couldn't stop or even frame it up. Turned out pretty good.
Have a good day.
~a

My Version of a 9 Patch Quilt

Well, not really. I joined the second round of Crazy Mom Quilts Nine Patch challenge. the challenge is to sew one block a day.

I loved the idea of taking out a little part of my day and just sit down and sew. I admire all these people in the blog world who accomplish so very much. It is because of several traits they have that I don't. One, they are tenacious. They sit down and work on their projects. Two, they spend less time on the computer than I do. I decided that I have to get myself a laptop and only allow myself to surf the web while I am on the treadmill walking or something like that.

I know a habit is formed in about 21 days. If you make time for the habit you are trying to form, whether it be exercise, reading scriptures, saying prayers, cleaning the kitchen (making that sink shine) , or any other improvement in your life, it takes commitment. Baby steps. Start with something small. Just make sure your sink is clean before bed. Just read ONE verse in your scriptures. Just one nine patch a day.

As I thought about which fabrics I would use for my nine patch quilt, I thought about my own Tumbling Blocks quilt that is all cut out and awaiting me to piece them together.

So, Amanda Jean, at crazymomquilts.com, this is MY Version of the nine-patch quilt. I am committed to cleaning out my UnFinished Objects (UFO's) before I commit myself to yet another thing.

I will do more than 9 patches, mine requires 12 to make one block. I LOVE this fabric and the Tumbling Block pattern.

My goal, eventually is to outfit each guest room with a queen-sized memory foam mattress, new soft sheets and two quilts. I want a soft wintery/Christmasy one and a light weight summer one.

I've ordered the sheets, Sailor built one bed so far, and this is my effort to make a beautiful quilt to put on one of those beds. We have three guest rooms that I have to redo.

One baby step at a time. Wish me luck.
Oh and by the way, I am trying to improve myself with all the habits I have listed above. Not only do I need you to wish me luck, but I need encouragement and probably all your prayers.

Now back to work. I cannot spend too much time on the computer. I am serious about getting a laptop and limiting my time on the computer by only allowing myself to surf the web as I walk on the treadmill. I will have to modify the treadmill so it holds a computer, but I think Sailor would be able to do that. Don't you think, Honey? (love you Friend)

have a happy and productive day
~a

What shall I name her?

I got a new (to me) car! A 2005 4-door Grand Am. The only time I purchased a brand new car right off the lot was after college. I got a job and bought a Mazda 616 piston engine. I was so proud of it. But it got worn down pretty quickly after our marriage and one day the engine overheated.
Ever since, we have gotten second-hand cars. This one feels like it just came off the lot. The three owners before took extra good care of her.

• She had 65,000 miles on her, she was owned first by a rental company, then two private owners.
• The heater and AC works on my feet! wahoo. I feel a bit disloyal to White Grand Am, but her heater and AC didn't work on the feet. White GA is now reassigned to Sailor. He drives her to work. She gets great milage. But so does the new Gray Grand Am.

• This one has 4 doors, some pretty fancy wheels and a satellite ready radio. I haven't felt so luxurious in a long time.
• She has tinted automatic windows!
• Automatic transmission and . . . and. . . cruise control. hee hee.
• She even has a spoiler on the back. Wow so racey.
  

We saw her on the parking lot near Leo's just before the Outage in March. We thought it would be nice, since the white one has close to 200,000 miles. I was offered the temp job during the outage. If I was able to get many hours in, perhaps we could afford her.

We talked about it for quite some time and finally called the owners. The Blue Book was around $1000 less than they were asking, but these were a young couple. The dad of the girl selling it was so pleased we were looking at it and told Sailor at work how they were trying to get out from under some of their debt.

Of course sweet Sailor couldn't talk them down to the Blue Book price. He just offered exactly their asking price. It did come with a new set of Snow Tires, so I guess that is about the amount we overpaid.

Anyway, the amount I earned at the Outage was able to pay around half of the asking price and the rest was in savings, so that is sweet. She is all paid for, licensed, insured and sitting in our carport.

The photo above is one I found on the internet, but it is exactly how she looks.

So what is a good name for her?

I have to keep pinching myself to realize she is really mine.

oh and she came with one of those key fobs that you can press a button and it says "beep" while the doors lock. How fun is that? Sometimes I just get that out and press the button just to hear it beep. hee hee

I hope you have a nice night

~a

Pay It Forward

I saw this post go by this morning on Pottery and Everything Else. I, too always like to make things for people, so I decided to participate. I am totally borrowing Heidi's rules, so here we go:

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. This is an adventure!

2. What I create will be just for you with love and good wishes. It will be made of actual materials, not of cyberspace.

3. It will be done this year (2009).

4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be!

5. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your Blog and create five things for the first 5 people to respond to your post.

6. Send your mailing address after I contact you.

IMPORTANT: This offer is null and void if you do not post on your own blog to pay this forward.

Cheers!

~a

Got My Christmas Lights Up

I got this in an email from my sister today and about choked laughing. Thanks ZB
The caption read:
I've been so busy lately, but finally had a few minutes to get my outdoor Christmas lights up. Let me know what you think. It was quick, but at least it's done......

Fabulous entry in a talent show

For those of you who are not LDS (Mormon)I have to explain. Periodically we have fun entertainment, although, I haven't seen one of these talent shows in years and years. Apparently there are other congregations or Wards, as we call them who are still doing such fun things. This one by the Summit Ward.

Here is a typical humorous Mormon production. Enjoy.

Ceasar Has Left the Building or Are You Roman Tonight?

I just read a blog that referred the reader to this article reporting a statue of a likeness of Elvis has been found among Roman ruins, in fact he was carved 1800 years before Elvis was born.

How crazy is that? Go read Scaramouche Jones' blog, he puts it so much better than I could ever try. Very cleaver.
Have a happy day

~a

First KFC franchise

While helping D2 pack and move to Denver, we stopped at a KFC located in south Salt Lake to feed all the troops who were helping.

Apparently this is the first Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet, founded by a man in Salt Lake named Pete Harman.

Inside there are all sorts of pictures, plaques, awards and certificates mounted in cases and picture frames, kind of like a museum. Among the pictures was one showing Colonel Sanders standing next to Pete Harman.
There was a statue outside the building that was unfortunately modeled after the picture inside. I think Sanders is on the left with a cane, and Pete is in the right.

In the picture it looks like Pete is folding his hands, and I didn't think a thing of the likeness outside until Sailor said, "Is this supposed to be a fountain or something?"
That, my friends, would be a very scary fountain.

~a

"chicken? I could eat some chicken."
-Monica on Friends

working from home

I thought this was sort of funny, in a morbid sort of way.

I thought of Mostly Risible when I saw this guy working from home, because she is the only one I know who actually does telecommute.

The computer age is really miraculous, isn't it?

I don't think we should ever allow Death to work from home if we have any control over it.

~a

Anita Renfroe

In honor of my mom's birthday today, I will post this. I have seen it before but my sister sent it to me today and it is so funny I want to keep it forever. I did a little searching and I found one that has the lyrics as well. Have fun.
And Happy Birthday MOM! I love you

Here is a link to YouTube
in case you can't play this on my site. I have been told it doesn't play.

have fun!

Painted Ladies

Quite a while back I posted this YouTube video called Women in Film
Here is another one, this time it is the
painted ones

unintentional practical joke

We have one of those hand-held shower heads. With this model one has the option of leaving it on the mount and showering like normal, or to get hard to reach places, like your legs and feet you can pull it off the mount and spray. Sometimes when he has taken a full shower the night before Sailor just washes his hair in the mornings. He pulls the shower head off its mount and concentrates the water on his hair:
Usually he puts the shower head back on it's holder, but today for some reason he had not. It was left on the shower floor, spray part pointing upward.
Later, during my normal, but sleepy morning routine, I stepped into the bathroom and turned on the hot water, like usual. But instead of having the water flowing onto the walls of the shower stall to warm up, suddenly cold water was spraying all over me and the room behind me. I had to reach across this cold stream of water to turn it back off.
I'M AWAKE NOW!
I don't think he could have come up with a better practical joke if he had planned it. . .

This day will be a good one I'm sure. . . if I set my mind to it.

have a great day as well

~a

Savage Chickens: Pi Cartoon

I thought this was hilarious. Funny drawing, it looks like a chicken and yet . . . This guy is talented.

I guess it must be Einstein's birthday.

~a

Yeah, I brought the house down

It is so fun to have the perfect timing and right thing to say that makes the whole room of people laugh, and I did it last night. . . (I might add, for one of the first times in my life)

We are in the process of learning an original composition called Missa Brevis, written by our assistant conductor, Donny. He is a genius and is able to arrange orchestrations to any song we are singing. To be able to write all the music for every piece in the orchestra of the particular arrangement we happen to be singing takes musical genius, I think. He has written so many orchestrations for different arrangements of Oh Holy Night, for example, that he has started calling the song "Oh Holy H.e.double.toothpick". Except he uses other wording. He means that in the most reverent way, of course.
But Donny doesn't stop there. He also writes original compositions. And he particularly loves stuff that breaks all the composition rules. I don't pretend to even understand any of the rules, let alone manage to sing them. But to give the reader an idea of what I am talking about, let me explain. Usually on Mozart-type compositions, the music has a harmony, it has a regular beat. It is fun to listen to. On pieces like Missa Brevis, there is much discord. Don't get me wrong, it is a challenge to sing, but it is enjoyable. Especially when we sing it just right. I just don't envy the listener, unless he likes Benjamin Britten music (which has MUCH DISCORD). I love singing Benjamin Britten music, because it is really hard to learn, and you feel so accomplished to learn such a piece. But I have been in the audience of a Benjamin Britten opera, and it was torture.

Anyway, we have spent the last month and a half, learning three of the five parts to this composition by Donny. The pages are written like he would for an orchestra. We get only the alto part. for instance, and have no idea where anyone else is compared to us. This is different than normal choir arrangements, but this is good, because it makes the singer count and concentrate only on their own part. Anyway, after all that explanation, suffice it to say. The learning has been intense, hard and long. You go away from practice with a headache from concentrating for two hours.

So, last night, Sterling, our choir director, was explaining that we had now learned 3/5th of Missa Brevis, and actually we only had 3 more minutes of song to learn. He further explained that when we perform the next two parts in the concert, they will really only last 3 minutes. That is when I piped up and said: "Is that in Foot Ball minutes? or regular minutes?"

Yeah, it brought down the house.

Savage Chickens: Thursday Cartoon

Some time ago I discovered this cartoon and have had an RSS feed added to my homepage. This guy is so talented. They are so funny. Hope you enjoy
a