Supermarket Sweep

Anytime V comes home from the grocery store, I ask him, "Did you see anyone you know?"

Grocery shopping is not my thing so I usually rip up and down the aisles, trying to get it over with as soon as possible.  I probably look like I'm in a race while I shop and I tend to not look at people.  If you were to ask me if I saw anyone I know while grocery shopping the answer would usually be no.  It's possible that I could have seen someone I know if I'd looked up while shopping but I get too wrapped up in grocery thoughts (I mean, the cost of lettuce these days!) and trying to get out of the store as soon as possible that there is just no time for socializing.

Remember Supermarket Sweep?  That's how I shop.

Here's a funny clip from the Canadian version I watched when I was younger.  Who knew this show would have such an influence on my shopping methods?

Last week I ran in to a vegetarian friend of mine in the meat section (just kidding) and she told me about a chickpea curry she was making.  Later, when I got home I asked her for her favourite vegetarian recipe, she sent me two; one for chickpea curry and one for a vegetarian meatloaf.

I have never had meatloaf with meat (I don't get the appeal) but this vegetarian version sounded good and the recipe reviews online were all really great.  I made it last night.

Not much to look at but it tasted good! I made roasted carrots with dill as a side.

This recipe was easy and I would make it again but I would tweak the spices a bit to make it more to our tastes.  It's basically lentils, oats, onion, an egg, a bit of tomato sauce and spices.  One reviewer wrote that they'd made it in to veggie patties for burgers. I'm going to make a version of this recipe into patties and see how it turns out.  I think I might like it better with some crispy edges.  Since it's a loaf only the top part is crispy and the main loaf is a lot softer, more like a heavy spread.  Thanks again for the recipe, A!

What are your go-to vegetarian recipes?  Share!

I don't need this, I don't need this, I don't need this.

But isn't it pretty?  I already have a bright pink leather purse that I never use so I know I don't really need this Kate Spade bag.  

Also, the $448 price tag makes the do-not-need-to-have-this-purse decision easier.

This stationery set is just as pink and much more affordable and you get to share it with friends when you write them a note!

Frolic

It's so springlike and sunny outside so I left the house to go for a walk.  I saw a lady in a tank top.  Extreme!

Oranges in the back yard

Backyard bloom

Tahoe Park Flair

Valentine Flair

Pretty red heart

Baby pinecone

Printmaking

A carved linoleum block

Printmaking is my favourite way to be artsy fartsy.  Unless you're really winging it when you're carving the block, it's hard to screw up the design and even if you do, you can usually fix it so it looks like the mistake was made on purpose.

The resulting print

I tend to think about what I'm going to draw, sometimes for weeks (and months...) then I draw a rough draft on paper in pencil.  When I'm happy with how it looks I flip the paper over and lay it on top of the lineoleum block.  Then, I use a pencil to rub the back of the paper so the design transfers lightly on to the block so there's a general cutting guide.

Polar bear linoleum block for a print I made for my Dad for his birthday a couple of years ago.  About a year after I made his print (the only one) I wanted to try something fancy with different colours but the brayer I used just mixed them all together and made a big mess.  I need to try again with more than one brayer.

Penguin block

Penguin print with a watercolour wash

I happened to reserve two of the same book from the library by accident.  The first was published in 1955 and the second in the 1970s.   

The book offered this interesting tip

Printmaking project ideas by month

I should definitely make a patriotic motto card this month.  Suggestions?

When we were in San Francisco last weekend I stopped at the art store hoping to pick up a large linoleum block (18x24 or larger) so I wouldn't have to pay shipping by ordering it online.  They didn't carry the larger sizes in the store anyway so I'll be placing an order soon.  Shipping's free at Blick if you spend over $160.  Anyone need some art supplies and want to go in on an order?

What art or craft projects are you working on right now?

Pucker up.

Only a week to go!  What kind of Valentine are you?

Sweet Valentine: Music by my favourite Canadian, Cupcakes (my favourite local cakery is Icing on the Cupcake), a book of romantic poems, ladylike shoes by Kate Spade, dress by Madewell, and Venn Valentine card.

Retro Valentine: Colour block dress by Juicy Couture, tunes by Mayer Hawthorne, vintage Valentine card, bright pink shoes, and an old school book on how to smooch.

Sexy Valentine: A serenade from Adam Levine of Maroon 5, black lace dress, dangly earrings, super fancy shoes, sassy Valentine card, and a dirty talk book.

Wedding band

I almost couldn't believe it when I got the call that my wedding ring was ready for pick up last Friday!

Shiny!

 The ring is mostly white gold.  There is a thin ring around the top that's yellow gold and the bezels for the sapphires on the sides are yellow gold too.  You can see in this photo that it's a little big for my finger.  I need to take it in to be sized down but I wanted to wear it for the weekend.  Hopefully the little size adjustment won't take months.

The diamond was V's great grandmother's stone from her wedding band. There are two small sapphires on each side, my birthstone.  The jeweler was worried that I would get soap and hand cream stuck in the little "bowl" on the ring but I'm not planning on putting cream on while wearing it.

Here's the original drawing we brought in on October 18th.

Let me in, let me in!

Good grief.

Going a week without a computer is strange and kind of alienating.  I read two books (one really long one and one really short one), framed and hung some art in the house, cleaned, moped, made some cards, met friends for coffee, cooked some new recipes, and moaned about my computer being in the shop.  My phone doesn't always notify me of emails or facebook messages so I am doing some catching up today.  Sorry to anyone who is wondering why the heck I'm ignoring them.

I did my nails too using the stamp set that came in the mail.  I love it.

Most importantly, this week I worried about my immigration medical exam, which ended up not being so bad at all, except on my wallet.  After draining $335 (cash only) from my wallet, the physicians assistant DRAINED ME OF MY LIFE BLOOD.  He was really friendly and tried to get me to sing O Canada in French.  Before I could think about passing out, the blood had been drawn.  The TB test needle was uncomfortable.  Even though it was a little itchy, I never reacted and have been deemed free of tuberculosis among other things (syphilis, HIV, mental disorder).

Want to see what a syphilis outbreak looks like?

I don't.  How about this cute kitten instead?  (Photo by mngl).

I also went for the bio metrics exam Friday morning at 8 am which is part of the process for applying for a green card.  The Social Security office didn't open until 8am so I stood outside with all the other American wannabees and waited for the doors to open.  The lady handing out the paperwork to complete must have been working there for a long time.  Some of the people there couldn't speak English very well and she became very frustrated and almost rude when they didn't understand what she was saying.  It was uncomfortable.

The lady who took my fingerprints and photo was quiet but friendly and had a bright red fake flower in her hair.  Also, she said she liked my coat so I gave her an "excellent" rating on the survey I was asked to complete after my visit.  I was out of there in about 15 minutes.

Now, I have to send in the medical exam results to USCIS, which are sealed in a stamped envelope and V has to complete an affidavit of support proving that he can support me and I won't be a drain on the U.S. system.  It seems like it would be a good idea to give out the work permits long before issuing a green card so people can work while they're waiting for their application to be approved.  The money I earn will be going right back into the economy anyway.

V's car was in the shop for a few days this week so I got to see some of the latest visitors when I dropped him off and picked him up from work.

This tame possum snacked on a pomegranate...

Sniffed my feet...

And drank some water.  His fur feels like a husky pup's fur.