new blog find

Just found this new food blog Amuse Bouche which is not only full of delicious recipes but her writing is very funny and relatable.  I made her Restaurant Filet Mignon and it was fabulous! (and super easy) Yes, that's herbed butter... don't be afraid... just go for it!

I am also jealous of my sister right now because she just got to see Kevin James doing stand-up comedy in Orlando where she lives! She said he was really great! (and clean). I am a huge "King of Queens" fan so I would have loved it. And here's some trivia for anyone who cares: Kevin's wife appears in four episodes; one being when she plays "Sue", the nail girl when they blacklist Carrie! She's the really pretty Asian woman. They have three children. And "Cousin Danny", Gary Valentine is really Kevin's older brother. He used his parents' names Janet and Joe for his tv parents' names!

Have a great weekend!!! :D

words of wisdom

Gotta love Pinterest!  I saw this and thought it was something I should write on a post-it note and pin up! 

More often than not, I tell myself that I'm failing at something or that I can't really do something. Like the fact that I'm sitting here in my exercise clothes and perusing Pinterest instead of going downstairs and getting my butt into shape! Okay... here I go...

The power of introverts

This is SO good! If you are an introvert, have a child, parent or sibling, or you have a friend or coworker who is one (so basically I'm saying everyone), you NEED to listen to this! It would go a long way in helping people to understand each other. I posted about Susan Cain's Book a month or so ago: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking.  The world is made up of all kinds of people and the better we can appreciate everyone's differences, the more chance we have of being smart and being a peaceful, kind world.

success...

I've been thinking a lot about success lately-- as defined by only me because really, that's the only person you have to look in the mirror at every day and can hold accountable. I am also wondering how my whole transition will be from a mom of two high school kids to college kids. You really have to have your expectations in check when your kids start talking about their own futures. Of course I want them to be successful, but they will be in charge of defining that for themselves. What motivates them is not necessarily what my motivations are in life. And that's not good or bad... it is the adjustment to their differences that can sometimes be hard for me. I don't want to be a parent that pushes my child into something because it will look good to my peers. I want them to be true to who they want to become in life. Some of Caroline's ideas about what she wants to do or her interests in studying certain areas are careers that very few people make a lot of money at. She doesn't care... she will live within her means. That is already her personality.  I don't want them to have their identities tied up in the car that they drive or the house that they live in. I do hope that they chose to live somewhere that they love. I hope it's close enough to me that I can see them more often, but if it's not, then I will figure out how to keep in touch and see them as often as we can. Craig and I want to help them get off to a good start in adulthood but they will have to take those reins pretty early and do a lot for themselves. Neither Craig nor I had much of anything when we started college and especially afterwards! But we worked hard and dreamed big... and sometimes those dreams paid off and sometimes they didn't. Many of you were along for my ride of the last five years and some even longer! The one thing I like in the above list is "persistance". Hard work is something no one ever regrets doing. It is even harder when that hard work is something that receives no salary or monetary compensation. To the modern world, they define that job as one of no success. But the opposite is true. I think it's the things you do because you feel they should be done no matter what, that determine a person's success. I've known a lot of people who have achieved monetary success but their lives were not what I would consider successful, in their family relationships and as kind people. There are some people that can do both, and that's impressive. I am most impressed with people who are pursuing their interests with the talents they have, who give time and money to others who need it, who can afford their lifestyles, and take time to make the family and friends in their life feel they are special and are loved and supported. I'm not saying I've achieved all of that, but that is something I work at. I think I will feel successful if I can do that. As for the rest of that list, they are all things I will try hard to do too (except that first one, because it's already done!).

Maira Kalman

I wandered onto this article about Maira Kalman that was an interesting little synopsis about her and a show from 2010. She's the kind of artist who inspires me to just draw (or paint) and not care so much about the perfection of whatever it is, but to just show the essence of the person or the object or the place. Her paintings look simple but if you look closely, then you can see the bits of color placed just right so that the images are vibrantly alive and complex.  She's also managed to produce best-selling books and has recently illustrated a new edition of Michael Pollan's Food Rules: An Eater's Manual. I saw her interviewed last year on the Colbert Report and I have to wonder how many artists/illustrators achieve the kind of fame that Maira has? I also didn't know that she and her now late husband were the designers behind the M&Co product line which includes watches and those umbrellas sold at the Met with the clouds on the underside! I'd say she reminds me of a modern day Ray Eames!

Happy Easter!

I found these from several years ago and decided to post them again! :)  I hope you are having a good Easter weekend!  Our church was packed full this morning and both of my men helped to usher. Caroline wore her new dress... but I forgot to take a photo!!! We came home and made a wonderful brunch of gf waffles, bacon from the farm, omelets with tomatoes, fresh watercress, green onions and cheddar jack cheese, and fresh cut pineapple. Mmmm! I love brunch. I was going to make a reservation out but every restaurant I called was booked, so it turned out even better that we ended up making it ourselves. The weather has been very warm and sunny... we really are blessed today! Craig went to go hit golf balls, Caroline is sewing again, and Nathaniel is playing a new game he bought yesterday with some birthday money. This gave me a moment to check in to see what everyone else has been up to. Thanks for checking in with me! :)  

x Beth

I miss the egg hunts and Easter celebrations at my Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Love this and wanted to share it... (maybe you'll join me?)

Mani Norland, Principal at the School of Homeopathy talks about education in homeopathy and homeopathy beyond the placebo effect.

About Mani Norland
Mani Norland grew up with homeopathy all around him and is passionate about health, homeopathy and people. His father is the well known homeopath Misha Norland. He trained with the School, and practices from his clinic at home. He took over as the Principal at the School of Homeopathy in 2009. Whilst developing and managing the School he also sustains a small practice at his home clinic in Stroud. Mani is also the Managing Director of Alternative Training, a business that manages home study courses and books. In his 'other life' he worked in London as a brand and business consultant for over 10 years. He advised board level directors on business creation, vision and image. He has experience working with leading companies including those as diverse as Sainsbury's, New Look, and KwikFit.

Woo-hoo! Finally fibers on here!!!

Yes... you're not imagining it... I've been sewing and stitching! Caroline and I have been working on a plum colored linen dress for her and we're close to being done. I have never done a blind stitch before for the hem, but I'm going to have to learn quickly!

I have also started Alicia Paulson's counted cross-stitch pattern "Winterwoods" which is on a beautiful gray linen. It's a little harder than I thought it would be because the linen tends to be a little irregular in the warp and weft. But it's also very addicting! I just ordered a piece of brown linen to do my own thing on. It's hard for me to follow someone else's pattern because I keep wanting to create my own design.

I messed up this one a bit, so I'm going to start over in a couple places. She has this framed, but I'm thinking I might make a throw pillow out of it (?).  We'll see. The little pictures remind me of Maine, so that's why I'm doing it (this winter pattern in spring!).

I have been thinking of moving Red Yarn to a new url. Right now it's under my full name (you've noticed I'm sure). I miss being out there with everyone else and sort of hidden here. In some ways it's nice because now I feel like I'm just talking to you guys--my friends, and no one else. But then I feel like I'm cut off from a lot of other nice people out there and I can't share stuff like this with anyone else.  I just want to be anonymous but maybe it's too late for that.

Back to cooking dinner! I decided to come up with a week of dinners and do the same thing over and over so I really know how to do them well, and then change things up a bit whenever I get a different vegetable or want to try a new spice. It takes the stress out of planning and getting groceries. I tend to make the same things anyways and so I'm just sticking to my favorites. I made some bbq brisket yesterday that was to die for... I must post that recipe. It's from Sara Foster's Fresh Every Day cookbook... one of my favs!