Dog Couture (DaLocalWife)

Did I ever mention my faible for dogs?  Or babies?  It is the most likely reason why I prefer to adorn them with my hookie work, rather then just lil ole you or me.

LOOK!

 

Ludwig Van Barksalot, stylin' in a blue wool fisherman's sweater

 beauteous Bella from Quebec, putting the D in diva.  Ooooh lala

 Bella, being a diva, needs two outfits.  This is an acrylic, utilizing the African flower.

 Rugged Rotu likes plain outdoor apparel in aubergine (DON'T call it purple!)

not even poor Fleazel is spared.  This is him, modeling a hood created for Nofuratu.  Check this dude out.  HERE:  http://www.nofuratu.blogspot.com/

As you can see, I am an equal species opportunity kind of gal.  Poor Flea.

"let me know when Hollywood calls.  Until then...don't bother me."

Valentine's Day in DaLocalHouse (DaLocalWife)

This is why I love my man.

Flowers and Chocolate for me

DaLocalChef style

Happy Hallmark Day, Peoples!

In which She Reminisces with Purpose (DaLocalWife)

I have always loved music. 

As a child, growing up in Germany, there was a band out of East Germany named Karat.  Emo music by today's standards, my generation found it poignant and lyrically inspiring.  Although I love all of their offerings, one song has gotten me through the tough bits.  It is the epitome of my attitude towards hardships and the beast I call Prader-Willi Syndrome (http://www.fpwr.ca/about-foundation-prader-willi-research-canada/ ), which is the bane of my son T's existence.  

The song is called Gefaehrten des Sturmwinds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4xO2kwQzUM

and I will translate as best I can.  Hopefully it's meaning will not be lost on you.

The Storm's Companions

Every day anew, the storm is born,
he flies around the world and knows no path.
Daily he seeks new company,
he knocks on my heart, looking for a door.

My hunger for freedom was lonely and untamed,
I loved that which coincidence brought.
I searched for my stars all by myself,
cursed the dreams which I shared with no one.

Even when the storm breaks apart your roof
and he bends you down to the ground,
Get back up and offer him no quarter
because he will carry you far if you fly with him.

Every day anew, lights and shadows exchange,
I follow my path like driftwood in a river.
And many a night I dream of the floods,
I go with the storm as he waits for me.

I have already met him a hundred time
and every new day I look into his face.

Even when the storm breaks apart your roof
and he bends you down to the ground
Get back up and offer him no quarter
because he will carry you far if you fly with him.

Even when the storm breaks apart your roof
Even if he once almost defeats you.
Get back up, offer him no quarter
because he will carry you far if you fly with him.

                                                          ~Karat, loosely translated by K. Wilson

So there it is, my crutch, my inspiration.  Simple, really, just a song.  But it's meaning is not lost on me, and even though I once drifted aimlessly, I now face each challenge with force and commitment. If you learn to roll with the punches, you go further.

So, if you are down and it seems like everyone and everything is against you...if it seems to hard to persevere...
take this advice:  If you meet your challenge head-on and even when you face defeat, give it all of the oomph you can muster?  It's done, you succeed.  If it is just for that day, it doesn't matter because each new day, with each new challenge, offers you the chance to fly with the storm rather than lie down and give up.

Why the hell am I writing this now? 

Because T turns ten this week and he is amazing.

Because I can do anything I put my mind to.

There is NOTHING I can't conquer.

You hear that?

Nothing.

Overseas love (DaLocalWife)

I might have mentioned before how much I love giving people what they want or need (when it comes to crocheting ... gutter, people). 

Here is another instance where I sent a one-of-a-kind cotton play blanket (depicting a farm, beach, ocean and sky scene with some removable play parts) to Germany and have gotten pictures back, showing it's use. 
ILOVELOVELOVETHISSTUFF, so keep it coming, people.

Incredibly cute baby (no bias here) on my blanket at three months



Incredibly cute baby on my blanket at 7 months

This is why I do this crochet thing.  Create and please, instant gratification upon completion.

I am in the middle of designing (as I crochet it - that's how I roll) the cutest little cardigan/beanie set in lavender.  German Shepherds willing, it should be done in two days, for me to TADAH all over this page.

I never did post my dog sweaters, did I?  Oh well, another day.

In Honour of National Hot Chocolate Day (Da Local Chef)

 Not too long ago, a good friend was kind enough to give us a bottle of Bacardi Oakheart Spiced Rum. One evening, I decided to play bartender. It was like playing with a new ingredient in the kitchen! And the rum was fantastic! My favourite drink that night was a Mexican hot chocolate that really blew me away. I sent a message to an old friend, who works for Bacardi in the U.K. and told her about my discovery. 


This morning, that same friend sent me a message that today is National Hot Chocolate Day. (Not sure where, but who cares!!) So Jazzer...this one's for you!!!

The ingredients are really simple. You need 1 block(about 90 grams) of Mexican chocolate(my fave is Abuelita), 2 cups milk and 3 ounces of Bacardi Oakheart Spiced Rum. (You could use another spiced rum, but I can't say how it will turn out. The Oakheart is amazing!!) That's it. Nothing else.


One word of advice. Don't try this with regular chocolate. It's gotta be the Mexican stuff. It has a great cinnamony flavour and is totally unlike any other chocolate out there. Soooo good!

Put the milk in a pot and place over medium heat. Add the chocolate and stir until the milk is hot and the chocolate has almost completely melted.

At this point you need to grab an immersion blender. (AKA The Stick) Start whipping the mixture over the heat until it becomes rich and foamy, Stir in the rum and whip for a little longer, until steaming hot.

Ladle into mugs and you're ready to serve. It's hot, spicy and definitely sure to curl your toes on a cold winter's night. And if you feel the need you could always gild the lily a little with a touch of vanilla ice cream on top.

So, enjoy National Hot Chocolate Day, wherever you happen to be!!!

Da Papoose (DaLocalWife)

Like I've said before, my favourite thing to crochet is something that someone dear to me (or with lots of money :P) has seen/thought of/wants/needs.  A high school friend dinged me on Facebook a few weeks ago and asked if I could look at some pictures and come up with an idea that would suit her needs.  C wanted a papoose or a hat or a combination of the two that depicted a bear.  Made out of Teddy Bear-like yarn.  Seems her little (I use this term very loosely here because I have met him and he is NOT small) brother and his wife (with the coolest name ever), who live in Ireland, are expecting their first baby.  They affectionately call Junior "little bear".  Oh, and really?  It needed to be done within two weeks.  Creative juices flowed.

This is what I came up with:

(pardon Grover)

(notice the Canadian content)

When I sent C the pictures of the finished project, she seemed pleased.  But, as is usually the case, her daughter's eagle eye spotted a glaring omission.  I made the appropriate change:



I hope the little Irish/Canadian bear loves his/her little cocoon of fuzzy.

Night Time (Da Local Chef)

For as long as I can remember, I have been one of those annoying night people. No, I'm not talking about some freaky vampire crap. I'll leave that for the cheesy movies with their disco-ball night creatures. I'm that annoying person who is just getting fired up as everyone else is ready to fall asleep. 


As a chef, this nocturnal nature has been a great help. (As long as I wasn't working the early morning breakfast shift!!) Finishing a busy night, riding the adrenalin buzz could often take me to 2 or 3 in the morning without any trouble. It made for a great many memorable nights, most of which would not be appropriate to discuss here.


Last night, I headed out to walk the dog around 11:30. I put on the I-pod and headed out, leash in hand. It was an amazingly still night, and there was not a soul to be seen anywhere. I settled the headphones on my ears, pressed shuffle and headed off. At times like this, I just let my mind wander. I feel that I get some of my most creative ideas that way. Within 20 minutes, I had 3 dishes bubbling through my brain, that if no-one had been at home I probably would have stayed up until morning cooking. They will come to life over the next few days, to be sure. But then, a song came on that stopped me dead in my tracks.

"You're The Boss" Brian Setzer and Gwen Stefani. Such a cool track. And before I knew it, I was singing along with the song and dancing. Yes, for those of you who know me and are now staring dumbly, I said dancing. It was amazing. The moonlight shining down. The gentle glow of the street lamps. The dog staring at me like I'd lost my mind. I was in the middle of hundreds of houses, most quiet and dark. And unlike all those people, I was alive and just buzzing. It was incredible. As though I was the only person on Earth. The song ended. I straightened my coat and set off on my way, both dog and I perfectly happy to pretend the impromptu dance session had never happened. But it wasn't over.

Marc Cohn, "Walking in Memphis" This song has always had the ability to grab a hold of me, but last night was something different. Within a few bars, I was singing at the top of my lungs. And I don't sing, at least not when people can hear me. It's not that I'm embarrassed by my voice. I just have too much respect for other people's eardrums to subject them to my caterwauling. But it didn't matter. The music just flowed through me. And on that quiet, still winter's night, I sang so freely that I cried. It was incredibly liberating and freeing. Luckily, I had a Milk-Bone or two for Drako. He really didn't know what to make of these strange noises. Hopefully, he's not too traumatized.




When I got home, I sat down and wrote out half a menu worth of recipe ideas. The power of the night had lifted me up and energized me beyond belief. When I finally lay down to sleep, I was just vibrating with that energy. It took a half hour for me to finally fall asleep. And as I dozed off, a lyric came floating through my brain that summed it up so perfectly.


"Working late night, not that we hate light
Just feels right, that's when tracks come out tight
Thoughts start creeping, people are sleeping
Pull words out of the dreams, it's the deep end
It's the deep end, people are sleeping
Pull words out of the dreams, it's the deep end
Keep in mind, it's not that we hate light
Just feels right, that's when tracks come out tight"
"Deep End" - Swollen Members