My 365 day project, where I take a photo per day, is tiring but interesting.

I’ve been keeping up with the my picture a day project. Here’s a few of the best I’ve taken lately:

I’m going to take a photo every day this year and post it here (weekly) and to Flickr. It’s a New Year’s resolution of sorts. I hope to become a better photographer and just have more pictures. The older I get, the fewer I seem to take. It’s also in the Flickr pool for 365 day projects. So – here’s to memories.

And here’s the first week’s:

Things have been a bit crazy around here with my job and trying to finish everything for Christmas! I hope to be back to blogging regularly soon.

Only a few more to go!

The stitches aren’t straight and the ruffle isn’t perfect but damn it, I finished my first solo sewing project.

This is from McCall pattern M5505, apron C. I made it a size larger than my size so more of me was covered (I get flour everywhere when I bake). I also say solo because back in middle school my sister helped me make a pair of pants.

I figure if I grind my sewing skills enough, I can sew most of my Christmas presents next year. People might be sick of the crochet stuff by then. Now, on to a shirt pattern!

I’ve made a blackberry galette with fresh blackberries but tonight I made something more savory. I based it off this recipe and it turned out very well.

What is a galette? Pies for lazy people. The crust doesn’t have to be perfect and there’s a little more room for error.

Mine mostly consisted of butternut squash, onion, Colby jack cheese and basil. However, because I loathe waiting for dough to chill (and because I already know its delicious), the crust is made with a different recipe. Just don’t add the sugar for savory galettes.

Savory!

It was delicious! It was my first try with cooking winter squash and it turned out well.

I also bought a yellow bell pepper and some mushrooms that I intended to put in it but I didn’t feel like it worked well with the squash. Perhaps I’ll make a casserole.

I just redeemed some Coca Cola points via mycokerewards.com and this is what I got.

Hallelujah

I thought I was going straight to the burny place but looks like I’m in luck. Thanks Coca Cola!

I got a year’s subscription to Wired, if you’re curious.

I’ve been on a crochet roll lately! A couple Christmas presents and some just-because presents having a fair dance off before they part.

Just imagine flashing lights and cheap techno with a shakey bass line.

The koala, screwdriver and robot are made from the patterns in Amigurumi Two! The bear and koala are from Mr. Funky’s Super Crochet Wonderful.

I love the cute patterns in both. The design of Mr. Funky’s is more appealing but Amigurumi Two! has more versatile patterns in terms of amigurumi. Mr. Funky’s also includes some nice scarf and hat patterns but I’m on a crochet animal kick.

There are few things greater than the awesome power of Totoro. One such thing is the California budget deficit. But Totoro is still really awesome.
However, I somehow managed to capture this greatness in pillow embroidery form as follows:

From Everyday Journalist

My PC with Photoshop is currently out of commission I apologize for the crap photo. The need for back pillows for uncomfortable chairs has gone, although I still have the Rorschach embroidered pillow. The chairs are in someone else’s care and yet I need this pillow. I traced the pattern from this image, leaving out the children and other Totoros:

From Everyday Journalist

I have also gotten back into crochet after being burned out for a few months. I shall post my projects soon!

Also, I’m starting on Christmas present projects. Whoo! With the help of Mr. Funky and Craftster.

I don’t remember protesting the Internet but for all my Plurk buddies and Twitter followers knew, I could have been dead. Working “part-time” felt a lot more like full-time with the commute.

But now to another job. Unexpectedly, I got offered a job in Eureka at the Times-Standard. A real full-time at a daily. I don’t really believe in fate or that there’s a “plan” that I’m unknowingly following, but not making the cut for JET and taking the job in Willows seems to have worked out rather well.

For entertainment’s sake, here’s what I’ve been watching/listening to lately:

Answer Me This! podcast – A couple Brits answering listener questions and generally being funny. They’re on hiatus for the next couple weeks so you can catch up a bit

Phillip DeFranco – He’s a Youtuber that produces videos three times a week about news and Megan Fox (but mostly other stuff).

Nostalgia Critic and Nostalgia Chick- There’s a lot more on ThatGuyWithTheGlasses.com than these two series, but these are the ones that amuse me most. They review good and bad (mostly bad) nostalgic TV and movies. A couple of my favorites are reviews on North, Ferngully and Xanadu.

Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me - I like to put this on my iPod and listen to it on the commute to work (which I soon won’t have to make!). It almost always makes me, for realsies, laugh out loud.

Auto-Tune the News – I’ve been listening to each of these as they come out. Always make me smile because I hate television news.

All right. I’m back on track and ready to rumble so expect more activity!