She's Crafty, Like Ice is Cold

I landed a job at a local arts and crafts store in the yarn and fabric department!

Thank. Goodness.

It starts Monday, and I am so freakin excited I can hardly contain myself.

It means brushing up on crocheting, learning to knit, and regularly sewing up a storm.....but that is so good and refreshing and inspiring and ooh la la that I am so so so so happy.

The women who interviewed me were very silly and kind.
I felt at home immediately.
It will be nice to spend a good chunk of time with crafty women.

They said it can get a little nutty around the holidays,
but i just can't imagine it being like a crazy shift at the restaurant---waiting on 30 people at once, running around like a loon at 11 o'clock at night, knowing you'll be there for another 3 hours.

The entire store is smaller than the restaurant where I worked...and my department is nestled in the corner.

However, it is a flourescently lit hell.

I have anti-glare coating on my glasses, so hopefully that will keep otherworldly headaches to a minimum.

After my interview I mentioned to one of the employees, "Boy...a person could spend a chunk of their paycheck here, huh?"
and she replied, "Pfft. What paycheck?" :)

So today will be spent celebrating, by whipping up our Halloween Costumes (I found a great Bride of Frankenstein tutorial) and then crocheting a scarf with basic stitches.

Then it's time for Smallville and a big pan of Mac and Cheese.

Me.

Well, sheesh.....it has been an interesting month and a half...I have not sewn a darned thing...well, the same unfinished flannel shirt has been hanging off my dress dummy for about a month, but I have not touched it.

I've read seven books.....three of which were read on a spontaneous vacation to Hawaii. My bestest buddy had booked a trip awhile back, and I was able to go at the last minute. This did wonders for my mood and Vitamin D levels, as both were critically low. :)

We hiked in a magical forest and spent much time at the beach.....a rogue wave took my back out for a day or two.....

But it was worth it.

I ate a truckload of fish tacos and took in some lovely tropical sunsets.

Finally got around to reading Orlando (awesome), Lucky Jim (hysterical), and The Great Gatsby (classic). On the way home I started Anne Perry's

Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Victorian Mysteries.

Now on book 4.....they are highly entertaining.

It has been a beautimous pacific northwest autumn. The weather is amazing.....crisp, cool air...changing leaves and bright blue skies. The welcome rains started this week.

This is our magic tree.

The winds came last night and blew the leaves away.

Sigh.

I've also been busy writing fairy tales. More on that later.

There is a local yoga studio that is kicking my butt. In fact, I am going to head off to a class now. lest i procrastinate further and miss it........

Just got back! See? Didn't even know I was gone. Ever since my first class back in 1989, I have wanted to be a yoga instructor. Life has always thrown my off my game, but every time I come back to the practice I am reminded of how awesome it is.

So we shall see.

Right now, it is about getting me physically and spiritually on track....the instructing may or may not follow.

Russ and I are going as "Frankenstein/Bride Of" this year for Halloween...I know, I know. I wanted to do turn of the century swimming costumes....but my husband held his ground. Sigh.

We'll let him have this one.

Our dinner club this month was "Oktoberfest" themed, so we had spiced cider, pretzels with beer cheese sauce, meatballs, schnitzel, rot kohl, salad and german chocolate brownies. It was heavenly. The pretzels turned out wonderful---they even *looked* like proper pretzels. :)

I followed Alton Brown's recipe from the Food Network. Well worth the time. I subbed half the flour with whole wheat...next time I will go full whole wheat, but i did not want to produce franken-pretzels on the first try. :)

(I have a long history of ruining yeast breads.....but these turned out, and I think I discovered my errror.....so I am hoping I can produce some kick ass rolls for Thanksgiving this year! Recipes always appreciated.....)

This is the german beer cheese sauce:

Ingredients
3 c. shredded sharp white English Cheddar
2 c., Gruyere or mild cheddar, shredded
1 rounded tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup ale (I like Bass)
1 tsp. dry mustard
hot sauce to taste
A few drops Worcestershire sauce

Combine cheeses in a bowl with flour. Add beer to a small saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and add cheese in handfuls. Stir constantly, melting the cheese in batches. Stir in a figure-eight pattern with wooden spoon (important, so you don't get a gloppy mess). When the cheese has melted, stir in the dry mustard, hot sauce and Worcestershire.

Sorry.....no pictures, sadly. We ate them before I remembered to get out the camera.

Highly recommended, if you like strong tasting cheesey goodness like Welsh Rarebit.

For the cider I heated a few Bengal Spice Celestial Seasonings tea bags in a big pot filled with unsweetened Apple Cider. Orange slices floating on top....

YUM.

HAPPY AUTUMN EVERYBODY!!!!!