potluck

my team at work decided, "let's have a potluck!"

this always leaves me feeling challenged thinking, "what can i make that ... 1) i'd want to eat, 2) is healthy, 3) won't suffer from sitting at room temperature for who knows how many hours, 4) will THEY like it ?!"

i started to surf the net. i bookmarked a few recipes via pinterest.


thus, i decided on this: Wild rice salad with edamame and cranberries ....

i found some of the ingredients at whole foods, and the rest at harris teeter. the wild rice, edamame, and walnuts were best purchased at whole foods. but their dried cranberries? ... i just didn't want to pay a king's ransom for them. and their dried cranberries were very "dried", as in practically dehydrated.

so, i finished my shopping elsewhere.

see the really cool pyrex ?!

anyways ... so, i actually followed the recipe. i usually do that the first time around. i don't really want to change things until i know the original won't suit me.

and, i think it's good! the rice is a bit chewy, and i think that's how it's suppose to be. this was my first time cooking wild rice.

there's another kind of rice on special at the whole foods now --- it's black. not sure what it's called, but i might have to pick some up this weekend, because it just looks really cool.

so, tomorrow, i will sport this dish, for our potluck, and hope it's good enough for a meat-eating sugar-crazed crowed. i think it will. it seems that lots of the women on my team are more interested in healthy eating as well.

! ! ! V A C A T I O N ! ! !

... counting the days ... S U N D A Y ......

how to ...

... change the headlamp.

i noticed this morning when i pulled up infront of the laundromat, that i didn't see 2 headlights in my reflection.

ugh.

i got out and checked. yep. one was out. grrrr.

after i got the laundry into the machines, i surfed the net for instructions on how to change the bulb. i found this video:



later this afternoon, i stopped at the auto store and purchased a replacement bulb.

but, it's not something i want to mess with today. i will have to tackle this when my truck isn't hot, and i have gloves as to avoid touching the bulb, and in a place where the mosquitos won't eat me when i'm futzing around under the hood!

hedgehog afternoon

i spent some time with a friend from work this morning ... she wants to learn how to knit (and crochet!) ... so we started with the basics of knitting. after just a couple of hours, she's already on her way with her first project, and highly motivated =)

i wish i'd taken pictures of all her pets, but the only pictures taken were of the hedgehogs.


this little girl was so cute! she was a bit nervous, and was tucking up. i've never held a hedgehog before. they're sweet, quite prickly, but their bellies are so soft.

and then corrine brought out the "big one".

the 4th is ... over ... sorta

i had a FABULOUS 4th of july!

this will be a quick post, because i want to work on a new project before bedtime ...

but, i cleaned house, i made lanterns, and i had a couple of old friends over.


i had made these tin can lanterns during the week. each evening, i was able to accomplish at least one step ... whether freezing cans, or punching them out.

i made a total of 5 lanterns. they are actually pretty in their "natural" state, but i did spray paint them to be festive for the holiday ....


i had splurged and purchased a can of glossy red spray paint.

and the funny thing was ... when it got dark enough to light the lanterns, it was time for fireworks . meaning, they were not even used that night!


here's me (taking photo) hanging out on the porch with schmutzie & corbett.

i was knitting on my sweater (which, i am wearing now), and we were laughing, listening to music, and drinking white wine.

.... and then, it was darkish ... and the fireworks started!


i know ... that's not a "this" ...


but, it's all i have time for right now ... i must say, it's really nice to just walk out into your front yard and take a look over to the east and see fireworks!