As someone diagnosed with celiac disease, I don't find it a difficult diet to follow, since I'm pretty used to quickie meals with meat and salad or veggies. I enjoyed a Dagwood-type sandwich once-in-awhile but it's not something I really miss. I don't miss pasta at all. Chicken wings and beer - that's another matter.
But every now and then you get a craving for carbs and quinoa just doesn't cut it.
I used to be crazy about a frozen Presidents Choice Mexican lasagna that was available from Loblaws but I haven't seen one for years. The other day while I was trying to decide what boring thing to have for dinner when all I wanted was somebody to make it for me, I had a brainstorm. I had a bag of Masa Harina corn flour and made up a batch of small tortillas - took maybe 15 minutes. Put a layer of medium spicy salsa on the bottom of my square 9" pan, a layer of tortillas, had no hamburger so shredded up a leftover chicken breast as the next layer, sprinkled taco seasoning over the chicken, more salsa, shredded cheese, another layer of tortillas, salsa and lots of cheese. 20 minutes in the oven and it was to die for.
I don't often cook anymore because a) I don't need to b) no counter space which is annoying when you try to do creative cooking and c) I hate to do dishes. This dish was typical of what I will cook now - something experimental, creative, easy and quick. I don't like cooking the same thing twice because then you're following a recipe and that makes it work instead of play, but this was so good I had to try it again. This one was a real quickie, with store-bought brown rice tortillas, Frito-Lay salsa, lean ground beef and a mix of shredded blend and mozzarella cheese. A definite success, slightly second-best but still pretty darned good. The chicken is better than the hamburg which surprised me.
If anybody reading this blog needs gluten free cooking and likes the taste of Mexi-Cana, this is really a tasty dish. Probably not low in calories with all that cheese but frankly, my dear...
Oh yeah, the only prep dish is a frying pan for either the tortillas or the hamburg - bonus!
Friday, 13 April 2012
Sunday, 8 April 2012
Beautiful Morning (Not!)
The plan: Sleep in and have a lovely, relaxing Easter Sunday morning. The store wasn't opening until noon so it was the perfect opportunity to snooze.
The reality: The wind was howling so hard and loud that it actually woke me up. That was amazing in itself, because it takes a lot to wake me up.
Plan B: Dewey was restless and upset because of the wind and he wouldn't be able to sleep until he peed. So I put sweat pants on and a coat over the nightgown and thought they could have a quick pee and go back to bed.
The reality: The door to my apartment was snowed shut! No snow for weeks, spring weather and all of a sudden we wake up to a couple of feet blowing sideways and blocking my door with drifts. The dogs and I ran through the store and I punched in the alarm code before it woke the neighbourhood and we went out the store door. Dewey did what we went out for so I put him back in and grabbed the snowshovel and went to clear my apartment door with Corky. And since the shovel was out, I did the front stoop of the store. By the time I was finished shovelling and dried off the two dogs, I was desperate for coffee. Of course sleep was out of the question now.
Plan C: The store is closing at 5. Nap!
Right now it's 4:30, the sun is coming out and so are all the customers. If I can close at 5 it'll be a miracle. Go home and have Easter dinner, all you people! The exception would be the man in the green pick-up with the plow on the front who did a drive-by plowing of all the crap the snowplough left, and just left. He can come back as late as he wants. I have no idea who he was, just a Good Samaritan on Easter Sunday.
By the time I close the store, walk the dogs and dry them off, it'll come down to a choice between nap and supper. Sigh.
The reality: The wind was howling so hard and loud that it actually woke me up. That was amazing in itself, because it takes a lot to wake me up.
Plan B: Dewey was restless and upset because of the wind and he wouldn't be able to sleep until he peed. So I put sweat pants on and a coat over the nightgown and thought they could have a quick pee and go back to bed.
The reality: The door to my apartment was snowed shut! No snow for weeks, spring weather and all of a sudden we wake up to a couple of feet blowing sideways and blocking my door with drifts. The dogs and I ran through the store and I punched in the alarm code before it woke the neighbourhood and we went out the store door. Dewey did what we went out for so I put him back in and grabbed the snowshovel and went to clear my apartment door with Corky. And since the shovel was out, I did the front stoop of the store. By the time I was finished shovelling and dried off the two dogs, I was desperate for coffee. Of course sleep was out of the question now.
Plan C: The store is closing at 5. Nap!
Right now it's 4:30, the sun is coming out and so are all the customers. If I can close at 5 it'll be a miracle. Go home and have Easter dinner, all you people! The exception would be the man in the green pick-up with the plow on the front who did a drive-by plowing of all the crap the snowplough left, and just left. He can come back as late as he wants. I have no idea who he was, just a Good Samaritan on Easter Sunday.
By the time I close the store, walk the dogs and dry them off, it'll come down to a choice between nap and supper. Sigh.
Tronex Pliers Update
I said in a previous post that basically, I was just as happy with the cheaper Wubbers as opposed to the Tronex. After making a rosary, I've changed my mind.
For most of my work, I still prefer the Wubbers. As said, they suit my big hands. But doing a million (at least) little closed loops and fitting silver chain on a lot of those loops, I couldn't have done as well without those lovely, fine chain-nose Tronex pliers. My hands and wrists didn't get sore from repetition either. The plier handles are just as big but the nose itself is quite narrow.
So, Tronex company, I apologize for maligning you. When you're doing fine wire work or a million (at least!) little closed loops, the Tronex pliers win hands-down.
If only my eyes were as good as the pliers. It'll take me the rest of the day to be able to see well enough to upload some decent pictures of the rosary. If I got any.
For most of my work, I still prefer the Wubbers. As said, they suit my big hands. But doing a million (at least) little closed loops and fitting silver chain on a lot of those loops, I couldn't have done as well without those lovely, fine chain-nose Tronex pliers. My hands and wrists didn't get sore from repetition either. The plier handles are just as big but the nose itself is quite narrow.
So, Tronex company, I apologize for maligning you. When you're doing fine wire work or a million (at least!) little closed loops, the Tronex pliers win hands-down.
If only my eyes were as good as the pliers. It'll take me the rest of the day to be able to see well enough to upload some decent pictures of the rosary. If I got any.
Sunday, 1 April 2012
It Just Doesn't Get Any Better
And I marveled that Charles, a fisherman and on the water his entire life, can still take such pleasure in just being on the water and sharing that with his family and friends. He's taking a crew of divers out every day while they check the Maritime Electric underwater cable between PEI and New Brunswick and that will barely be done before scallop season starts. You'd think that he'd like to spend his Sunday off away from his job but luckily for the rest of us, he loves what he does. He's a remarkable man and he and his wife epitomize the generosity of spirit of so many Islanders. Lucky me!
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Fine Silver and Captured Amethyst
Other than the chain and the little tag, all the jump rings are made of fine silver. I couldn't wait to try the captured bead pattern in silver and, in my humble opinion, nothing goes better with silver than amethyst.
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Trivia Fun
"Stewardesses" is
the longest word typed with only the left hand
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
And "lollipop"
is the longest word typed with your right hand.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Our eyes are always the same size from birth,
but our nose and ears never stop growing. (I definitely knew that, it's become very obvious)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog"
uses every letter of the alphabet. (old, everybody knows that)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The words 'racecar,'
'kayak' and 'level'
are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous"; tremendous, horrendous, stupendous and hazardous (I've been called all of them at one time or another)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
And "lollipop"
is the longest word typed with your right hand.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Our eyes are always the same size from birth,
but our nose and ears never stop growing. (I definitely knew that, it's become very obvious)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog"
uses every letter of the alphabet. (old, everybody knows that)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The words 'racecar,'
'kayak' and 'level'
are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous"; tremendous, horrendous, stupendous and hazardous (I've been called all of them at one time or another)
There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious."
(It's facetious to think I'd be abstemious)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
(Me too!)
= = = == = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
A snail can sleep for three years.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
(Me too!)
= = = == = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
A snail can sleep for three years.
(Me too!)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Almonds are a member of the peach family.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Almonds are a member of the peach family.
(Me too!)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
(Not me, I don't have very big eyes)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
(Least of all, men)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
If the population of China walked past you, 8 abreast, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite!
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The cruise liner, QE 2
moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.
(Good thing he did that.)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid. (This year was so cold I froze completely solid)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
There are more chickens than people in the world.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Winston Churchill
was born in a ladies' room during a dance.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Bonus!! All the ants in Africa weigh more than ALL the Elephants!!
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
(Not me, I don't have very big eyes)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
(Least of all, men)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
If the population of China walked past you, 8 abreast, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite!
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The cruise liner, QE 2
moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.
(Good thing he did that.)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid. (This year was so cold I froze completely solid)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
There are more chickens than people in the world.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Winston Churchill
was born in a ladies' room during a dance.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Bonus!! All the ants in Africa weigh more than ALL the Elephants!!
Monday, 26 March 2012
Good Pliers, a Small Comparison
For years, all my work was done with cheap pliers - cheapies from either WalMart or Michaels, can't remember which, and two dandy bent-nosed pliers from Canadian Tire that cost me all of 49 cents each. The bent-nosed were my favourites but for the past few years the rubber grip kept sliding off the handles and that little annoyance grew to be a big PITA.
Since I was spending so much money on materials, I finally broke down and ordered a pair of Wubbers medium flat nosed pliers and a good pair of cutters.
It was like all of a sudden I was a professional! Perfectly sized for my big mitts, really comfortable and the plier nose was just right, small enough to get into tight spots but big enough to use a bit of force when needed.
These are a really nice pair of pliers and I can't believe I went so many years without them. My old faves the bent-nosed couldn't hold a candle to these for comfort or efficiency. Can you tell I love them?
Now that I had a good pair of pliers and realized what a difference they made, I just had to have more. More...better...even more expensive...if Wubbers could turn me into a pro then Tronex, the Swiss watch or German engineering of pliers could make me even better!
Not. The Tronex chain-nose pliers with ergonomic handles are nice. If I had got them first, I'd probably think they were the ultimate. But when I'm doing chain maille or doing wire wrapping or just about anything requiring pliers, I automatically pick up the Wubbers first.
The Tronex are perfect for getting into tight corners, when you're trying to tuck the end of a wire in under a bead. For everything else, they just seem too...fine is the word that comes to mind. They'd probably be right for a person with a more delicate artistic hand, not a meaty, workman's hand like mine, although the grip is nice and comfortable. When they're almost twice the price, they should be twice as nice, not my second choice.
I love my Wubbers and the next time I get the siren call of tools, Wubbers will be my brand of choice. I'd like the whole set. Time will tell if the handles will hold up as well as the more expensive brand but that'll be an unfair comparison as well, since I'm using the Wubbers a lot more. And at $25.99 (Jewelrytools.com) for Wubbers and $49.99 (Artbeads.com) for Tronex, it can wear out twice as fast and I'll still be ahead.
I have no affiliation with either brand, this is simply my opinion as a consumer. Both pliers were bought and paid for.
It was like all of a sudden I was a professional! Perfectly sized for my big mitts, really comfortable and the plier nose was just right, small enough to get into tight spots but big enough to use a bit of force when needed.
These are a really nice pair of pliers and I can't believe I went so many years without them. My old faves the bent-nosed couldn't hold a candle to these for comfort or efficiency. Can you tell I love them?
The Tronex are perfect for getting into tight corners, when you're trying to tuck the end of a wire in under a bead. For everything else, they just seem too...fine is the word that comes to mind. They'd probably be right for a person with a more delicate artistic hand, not a meaty, workman's hand like mine, although the grip is nice and comfortable. When they're almost twice the price, they should be twice as nice, not my second choice.
I love my Wubbers and the next time I get the siren call of tools, Wubbers will be my brand of choice. I'd like the whole set. Time will tell if the handles will hold up as well as the more expensive brand but that'll be an unfair comparison as well, since I'm using the Wubbers a lot more. And at $25.99 (Jewelrytools.com) for Wubbers and $49.99 (Artbeads.com) for Tronex, it can wear out twice as fast and I'll still be ahead.
I have no affiliation with either brand, this is simply my opinion as a consumer. Both pliers were bought and paid for.
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