Valentine's Day

As I drive, Ellie tells me about her memories of her childhood, one of which was a story about the excitement on holiday mornings, coming downstairs to see what I surprise I had in store for her. I was touched and thrilled to find that my efforts were special to her (and her brother, too.)That meant that she would not be too old for a surprise this Valentine's Day party. I also had a nice surprise for my husband. I think he was surprised the most, though when Ellie walked past the presents she was still half asleep and I think she thought the presents were just for her father.

For Ellie I had a hoodie that she had admired during a recent trip to Cabela's.

For Larr I picked out a tea kettle from Le Creuset tea kettle, though I am not certain that we will keep it. We would prefer one that is American made.

Ellie made a special card for Kohlton. He received his actual Valentine's day gift early.

Ellie had Kohlton over for the evening and we made heart shaped white pizza (alfredo sauce, fresh basil and mozzarella.) It seems amazing that in the two years since they began dating that we had not had that meal yet. He loved it; he is always thankful and complimentary of whatever food I prepare for him.

An Ethan Update

Ethan called this evening good and bad news. He spoke to the ship's mate, telling him that he needed to know about when he should plan to go home so that he could buy a plane ticket. The ship's mate told Ethan that they think he is a good worker, that they like working with him and that they hope that he would consider staying on. They usually send two-weekers home so that they can get their affairs in order and rest up a bit. However, they see Ethan as an asset to the crew and they need him, so he will be staying on for some time. We are thrilled for him; it is what he was hoping for. We will miss him, but we look forward to hearing more about his new adventures. This week they are traveling down to San Fransisco. When he returns he will be a salt, I would imagine.

High Flow Paint, Morro Bay, Snickerdoodle Cupcakes and a Sunny Day, Finally (+ a Recipe and a Video)

(Some people like the way I write my notes, so I thought you might like a peak,too. I love the travel journals that some people create when they do quick watercolor and marker sketches. Someday I would like to do that, too.)

Saturday was a glorious, sunny and beautiful day. It was such a nice change from the snowy, grey days that we have had all week. I like those days, too, but I am certainly tired of the cold. It was a good day to get outside and let our bodies create a little vitamin D. I was not outside as much as I would have liked, but I did have a good time. I went up to the Meininger's (art store) in Boulder for a lecture on the new High Flow paints by Golden Acrylic, my favorite paint company. I am pretty excited about this new product as it can be thinned and used as ink with a dip pen or put straight into an empty paint marker. This means that there are many more colors available for some of those projects that I love. As always, we were gifted with a goodie bag of product samples, including hot pink high flow paint. It may have to make its way onto some Valentine's Day cards, should I find the time to make them.

I also stopped by Fabricate to get a bit more fabric for the Charlie Harper table runner I want to make, though my sewing machine is currently in the shop. The colors are more fall like, so I may have to design another project to usher in spring. I was tempted by many of the other prints they had, but practiced restraint.

Ethan and the boat crews have been in Morro Bay for the last two days. The folks in Morro Bay were very welcoming. The people at the yacht club invited the crews from both ships over to the club for a drink and some chatting. A hotel in town also gave them a room to use during their stay. Simple gestures like that make such a difference, making the crews feel welcome and appreciated. It is not like that in every town. Ethan says that Morro Bay is very lovely and that he would like to go back to visit in a more leisurely fashion some time.

It was a bit late in the evening because the crew had been out to the movies to see, "The Monument Men." The movie theater was a old style with only one theater where you could also see the rafters. I think it was nice to go in town and do something. The crew that Ethan is on is very stressed at they are short by about 25%, needing a crew of 20-25, and having only about 15. Thus, there is not much of a chance to forge friendships. By the time the work is done, everyone is tired. The crew on The Lady is full and much more jovial. Ethan is not sure if that is simply the difference in the personalities of the ships, or the crew numbers.

Morro Bay

Ethan is working hard and sometimes he feels like he makes mistakes. We reminded him that this is part of learning, afterall, this is his first try at sailing. Yesterday he learned that he was not fully understanding some of the sailor specific language. Someone explained some of the terms to him today and that cleared things up.

"Do it better" or "Do it handsomely" means that you need to do the task a bit faster, even if the quality is a bit lower. He thought that maybe he was not doing it very well.
"It's well" means that you have done a good job and the task is finished. That can be easily confused to mean that the job is okay, and nothing better.
"DSU" stands for Destitute Sailor's Union, the code word for the tips that the crew receives, which in the case of the Hawaiian Chieftan and the Lady Washington, will be used for something the crews will enjoy, such as a nice dinner in a restaurant. (I'm sure Rosie appreciates having a chance to not have to make that meal. it means an extra break for her especially.)
(If you'd like to learn more, I found this great blog, "Pauline's Pirates and Privateers." Be sure to notice the super fun ship lamp and knitted sea creatures. If my boy was still little, I would want to make these for him.)

Morro Bay by Jimkv

Friday's 14 Days of Valentine gift for Kohlton from Ellie was snickerdoodle cupcakes. They smelled heavenly. Kohlton thought they were very yummy. He told me that he thinks she is so clever and creative. He loves getting the gifts and seeing what wonderful ideas that she comes up with. In two years she has not repeated any idea.

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes
via: Sally's Baking Addition: A Sprinkle of Fun and Adventure

Ingredients:

CUPCAKES
1 and 2/3 cups (210g) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 and 1/2 cups (300g) granulated sugar, divided
1/2 cup (1 stick or 115g) unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg
1/4 cup (60g) yogurt*
3/4 cup (180ml) milk*
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
CINNAMON-SWIRL FROSTING
1 cup (2 sticks or 230g) salted or unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
3-4 cups (360-480g) confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup (60ml) heavy cream or half-and-half*
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
salt, to taste
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
12 snickerdoodle cookies, mini size (read above for how to make them mini-sized)
Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Line muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt butter in the microwave. Whisk in 1 cup of sugar - mixture will be gritty. Stir in egg, yogurt, milk, and vanilla extract until combined. Slowly mix in dry ingredients until no lumps remain. Batter will be thick.

In a small bowl, mix the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon together. Set aside. Spoon 2 scant Tablespoons of cupcake batter into each cupcake liner. Top with 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Top with 1 heaping Tablespoon of cupcake batter, until the cupcake tins are about 3/4 full. Some of the cinnamon-sugar filling from the center layer may peek through the top layer of batter. See photo above for a visual. Top each cupcake with 1 teaspoon more of the cinnamon-sugar.

Bake the cupcakes for 19-21 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

To make the frosting, beat softened butter on medium speed with an electric or stand mixer. Beat for about 3 minutes until smooth and creamy. Add confectioners' sugar, cream, and vanilla extract with the mixer running. Increase to high speed and beat for 3 full minutes (the longer you beat, the creamier the frosting). Add more confectioners' sugar if frosting is too thin or more cream if the frosting is too thick. Taste the frosting and add salt if frosting is too sweet (1/4 teaspoon). Remove half of the frosting from the mixing bowl and transfer to a smaller mixing bowl. Add 1 Tablespoon of cinnamon and beat until combined, about 30 seconds.

To swirl the frosting, spoon half cinnamon frosting into the piping bag and half vanilla frosting into the piping bag. See above for a visual. Pipe onto cupcakes as desired. I used a Wilton 1M swirl tip. If you do not have a piping bag and tip, simply frost the cupcakes with both the vanilla and cinnamon frostings. There may be leftover frosting depending how much you use on each cupcake.

Store cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days and in the refrigerator up to 5.

*For the yogurt in the cupcakes, you may use plain or vanilla; regular or greek yogurt; any fat content; or even sour cream.

*For the milk in the cupcakes, you may use cow's milk; or soy milk; or almond milk. Vanilla or plain. I prefer using milk with some fat (like 1% or 2%), it makes the cupcakes moister.
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A Creative Playdate, A Large Rice Krispie and Sprinkle Heart and a Recipe for Pasta with Broccoli

The Fourteen Days of Valentine's Day - Day 5

For the 5th day of Valentine's Day Ellie made Kohlton a giant, heart shaped rice krispie treat.

I think it is all pretty fun. Pinterest makes it easier to find creative ideas.

My day was kind of crazy. The kids at school were snarky and the weather at 0 degrees for a high, was cold. Part way through lunch we had a special announcement to keep everyone in our rooms. After about an hour we learned that there was a natural gas leak across from the school. They evacuated the students out of the south entrance and released the teachers a short while later. Some teachers were not able to access their cars as they were parked next to the leak. I took a few of my colleagues to their homes.The leak was located an fixed that afternoon.

That evening I went to a "Creative Playdate" event at Two Hands Papierie in Boulder. I had not been before, so I did not know what to expect. Each person simply brings a project to work on. One woman was making a small tin box shrine. Mia, the store owner, was making wreath of handmade flower fashioned from tissue paper that had been dipped in bee's wax. She was making it as a sample for her class at "The Makerie" this summer. Another woman had a sketchbook and she was making drawings that were inspired by the cards, stamps, etc. that the store sells. The woman next to me was making a bracelet for her adult daughter. It featured the heart shaped rabies tags from the dogs the family owned while the daughter was still young enough to live at home. It is that mother's hope that her adult daughter will wear it to the "Heart Event" Ball that her daughter is helping organize in Atlanta. Although I brought stuff for several projects with me, I am a bit over-peopled this week, and so I had a hard time focusing. I cut out a few shapes from felt that I am appliquing onto my winter coat. I also bought a new, square sketchbook and I spent the time sketching some things in the store. I am especially drawn to the wood panel paintings by Kristiana Parn. I love the simple lines and the pop of color. Her art is so very different from my own.

By the end of the evening I had not really accomplished much of anything, but I did enjoy being around others who were being creative. I can be creative at home, but I am also distracted by the need to attend to others, deal with messes, give to dog loving, etc. Sometimes it is just nice to be away from home. I am planning on attending the next one in March.

On the way home I cranked up the radio and was absorbed by fun music from days past - Led Zepplin, "Angel is the CenterFold" by the Jake Giles Band, Pink Floyd, etc.

Back at home Ellie had taken charge and made dinner:

Easiest Pasta and Broccoli Recipe
via: Skinny Tastes

12 oz uncooked pasta
6 1/2 cups fresh broccoli florets, no stems
5 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped
1/4 cup grated Parmesan or Romano
2 tbsp olive oil, divided
salt and fresh cracked pepper

Directions:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. When water boils, add pasta and broccoli at the same time and cook according to pasta instructions for al dente. When pasta is almost done cooking, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water and set aside. Drain pasta and broccoli.

Return the pot to the stove and set heat to high; add 1 tbsp olive oil, when hot, add garlic. Cook until golden, reduce flame to low and add pasta back to the pot.

Mix well, add remaining olive oil, grated cheese, salt and pepper to taste mixing well and smashing any large pieces of broccoli to break up.

Add 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water and mix well adding more if needed.

Serve in pasta bowls with additional grated cheese on the side.

Of X-Rays, a Humble Celebrity, Chickens, Pigs, Shells, Swallows and Sea Shanties

As I do every afternoon during the school year, I called Ellie just as I was about to leave work to see what her plans were for the evening and if she needed me to pick her up. Her voice was chipper and happy, belying the fact that she had just been injured. It took me a little while to figure it out and asses how injured she really was. She is one to cover it up. I had planned to bake a clementine cake to take to a meeting that I had on Tuesday evening, but that was set aside once I heard her story.

She had been in the back of the gym when one of the boys carelessly chucked a 10 pound medicine ball towards the back of the room. My guess is that he just wanted to see how far he could make it go. I don't think he was aiming at her. However, it hit her foot or leg which pushed her left up and into the bottom side of the table she was sitting on. It hurt so bad that she could not put any pressure or weight on her leg. That was enough for me to know that she needed to see the doctor and find out if it was broken. It was late in the afternoon, so I rushed over to pick her up and take her in. Kohlton carried her to the car and tried to call the office as I drove. We arrived at the office before he could even get past all of the "please listen as our menu options have recently changed," and the "it is flu season..." messages had even run its course. I dropped them off at the door and he carried her in while I found a parking spot in the snowy, ice slicked lot. The people at the office were great and did not have any problem with our lack of an appointment. In no time we were all set with what we needed. The first stop was to have x-rays done.

It turns out that Ellie has some serious bruising, but no broken or fractured bone - thank heavens! She is in a lot of pain and is on crutches. Since we have a steep flight of stairs in our house, she is getting in a good workout each time she wants to go to her room. She says that it will develop her abs.

When we arrived at that part of the office there was a tall man standing at the counter, waiting. I put our paperwork in the tray and pushed the call button. I noticed that ours was the only paper in the tray. Another family arrived and did the same. By then the man had taken a seat. I was concerned that he might get passed over, so I explained to him how the system worked. When the nurse came out to see who needed help, I made sure she knew that he was first. He thanked me graciously.

Ellie's turn was next. She was ushered into the hallway and handed one of those oh so flattering hospital gowns. Just as she was going in, he was coming out and they found themselves with matching hospital gowns in the hallway. Seeing him dressed that was, too, made her feel just a bit better.

Later, while we were waiting for the next appointment, he came over to talk with us. He noticed that Ellie was wearing a Broncos t-shirt and he struck up a conversation. "Do you like the Broncos? Manning?" he inquired. Ellie nodded. He moved his sweater from where it rested on his arm and said, "When you go back to school tomorrow, you can tell your friends that you saw a Superbowl ring." His name is Goldie Sellers. He played for the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs. We chatted a bit more and went to our appointments. He was gracious and humble. I think he is a model for how celebrities should be.

On Monday Ethan and the Hawaiian Chieftan crew readied the boat for a trip up north. They put on new sails (a big task made easier with the use of many ropes) and used money from tips to go out to dinner. I imagine that was a nice break for Rosie, the ship's cook. Everything is tied down, even the bottles of shampoo, the blankets, anything that is not solidly attached. Each sailor has a net hammock to secure his/her personal belongings. Each bunk can become a secure area for the sailor. The ship, while it is beautiful, takes the seas hard and rocky.

They are headed north and expect to have rough waters near Point Conception. One of the other men said that they sometimes go as far north as Canada. But that is not in the works at this time.

Point Conception

Ethan also told us about the tattoos that sailor get:

Pig and Chicken tattoes = In hard waters you will float and survive, like the pigs and chickens who live in pens on the boat.

Shell on your back = crossed the equator on the ship. A golden shell means you crossed the meridian.

Swallows = each one equals 5,000 miles sailed.

"Hold Fast" on the knuckles = never let go to the life line.

He is also learning a few new songs, or rather, new lyrics to tunes he already knows. It turns out that it was common for crews to adapt the songs to include the important landmarks in the songs so that they can remember the way to their destination and back home again. So "Spanish Ladies" and "New Bedford Whalers" have new words when sung on the Hawaiian Chieftan.

Breakfast & Battles, Scrapbooking and Broncos

Today the Broncos played the Superbowl, and lost. I did not watch the game, but with a score like 43-8, it must have been pretty terrible. But, it was still fun to see Kass and Tucker sporting the hats that I made for them.

Ellie went to a Superbowl party with Kohlton and his father, Mark. That meant that Larr and I had a quiet day together. We spent part of the day enjoying the beautiful day while sunning on the couch like a couple of cats. I also had a chance to work on a bit of scrapbooking. I really should have been cleaning the craft room, but my sewing machine is in need of repair, so it would have been a bit sad to work in there since I designs for a new table runner for the table in the big room.

Scrapbooking is always a nice diversion from life. I was working on pages from 2012 and this reminded me of how much our life has changed since then. I am thankful for those days. (Here is a sampling of what I got done.)

Ethan called this evening to give us an update. He is incredibly tired, but also very happy. He has blisters on his hands; I imagine that it is pretty typical for a brand new sailor.

He tells me that they are awoken in the morning by Rosie the cook singing a nice song so that they can wake up quietly. Rose is a good cook, Ethan tells me. For breakfast this morning she made homemade blueberry muffins and a nice eggs dish. Lunch was homemade pizza. I think it is pretty impressive that Rose can make such wonderful food in a galley kitchen. I'm glad to know that Rose will be feeding my boy well.

This afternoon they took part in another battle. I thought that it was a mock battle, but I am wrong. The ship use real gun powder to shoot the cannons. This sends a blast of air and sound that has a specific tone, depending on what part of the ship that is hit. Today they won. I am sure a rematch is already scheduled.

A Walk on a Snowy Day, A Lunch in a Bento Box and Ethan's First Day on the Hawaiian Chieftan + Recipes

On Thursday night it was predicted that we would get between 7" - 11" of snow. That meant that Larr woke up extra early on Friday morning so that he could get the walks shoveled before he and Ethan set off for the airport. However, when Larr checked his email and such, he found out that the flight Ethan was scheduled to take had been cancelled. This caused a bit of a panic. If Ethan did not get to Ventura in time, his adventure might have been put off by two weeks. Larr woke up Ethan and had him get on the phone. Luckily, Ethan was able to get in touch with a helpful agent who was able to find a flight into Los Angeles that morning. It would mean that the train trip would be longer, but ultimately he would get there on time. Larr sent him off and went to school.

On the way out Ethan sat next to a 17 year old boy who was on his first solo trip on an airplane. They struck up a friendship and talked the entire way. The other boy was unsure about how to get his luggage so Ethan helped him and they parted friends. Two rows up from where Ethan was seated was a woman who happen to overhear bits and pieces of his upcoming adventures. When he exited the plane she approached him, chatted a bit, and mentioned that she was driving to Ventura. She would be happy to give him a ride. He explained that he also needed to stop at a store to pick up a rigger's knife and a pair of boots. She said that would not be a problem. They set off for Ventura in a rented car. She was happy to have the company. They took the scenic highway and Ethan was able to take in many beautiful sights during the drive. He helped her trade out the rental car for her personal car and then they picked up Ricky, her husband. They decided to go to dinner before delivering Ethan to the harbor. Ethan offered to pay for the meal or give them gas money as a thanks for the ride, but they declined both offers. They were happy to help him. When Ricky was young he had gone on an adventure, landing in a town once he ran out of money. He met a nice guy who let him sleep on the floor until Ricky was ready to go. It took Ricky three weeks time to get to that point and by then he had secured a job. He stayed in that town for about 15 years. Ricky was happy to play that one forward.

At one point in the trip Ethan called home to simply touch base. He told us about he had made friends with people he met on the plane that they were giving him a ride. This cause a good bit of alarm for Larr and I. While Ethan is a strong young man who is a good judge of character, I was afraid. I had visions of awful things inflicted on Ethan by people we knew nothing about. Kelly could hear our concern on the other end of the line and offered to talk to us. In the end it was all okay, but very scary. Kelly and Ricky have a 20 year old daughter who is teaching in Japan. Each day she would wake in the morning and check her email for confirmation that their daughter had returned to her apartment safely.

I realized that Larr and I had always had each other (we met and began dating in high school) so we never adventured alone. We had no choice but to trust that we had raised our boy to be a good judge of character and to be resourceful in the event that trouble arose.

After dinner they exchanged contact information and told Ethan that he would be welcome to stay with them any time he needed to. They offered for him to stay the night, but he politely turned them down since he already had reservations.

Once at the harbor Ethan met Pete, the man who owns the sailboat, "Freedom". He rents it out like a B&B, donating the money to a local children's charity in Ventura. He and Ethan also hit it off. Pete's son had died about a month ago and visiting with Ethan made him feel a bit better. He mentioned that Ethan would be welcome to stay other nights. They, too, parted friends.

This morning Ethan met the Hawaiian Chieftan early in the morning and began his tenure on the boat. He was swept up in the activity right away. He was on deck, he went aloft (and was nearly sea sick as the boat was rocking when it was in waves that were 5' - 6' tall). They even took part in a mock battle. He thinks that it will be a good fit and that he likes the people on the crew.

I'm glad it is all underway for Ethan.

Back at home Ellie and I had a pretty quiet day. She made a nice lunch for Kohlton who works in the shop on Saturdays. She packed him a fresh salad, noodles with homemade pesto sauce, BBQ ribs and snickerdoodle cookies.Kohlton is always thankful for her loving efforts and gestures.

After dropping off the lunch, we headed for the dog park. Remmie was hopefully excited, vocalizing and yelping. At one point he could not contain his excitement; he felt the need to sit on Ellie's lap so that he could see where we were going.

I dropped them off at the dog park in Golden and went to lunch with Natalie. I thought Ellie would get cold quickly and need to be picked up. Afterall, it was a balmy 19 degrees in the sunshine today. However, after the other dogs went home, Ellie decided they would walk into Golden to meet me.

Ellie said that they did not see a single person on the walk. She enjoyed the quiet calm of it all. I was happy to have uninterrupted time with my friend.

This evening Larr, Ellie, Grandpa Don and I went to a new sushi restaurant for dinner; it was great and we hope that they are successful. Tonight we are making a few things for Ellie to take to a Superbowl party tomorrow.

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Basil Pesto With Almonds Pasta
via:Brooklyn Farm Girl

3 cups of fresh basil leaves
4 cloves garlic
3/4 Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup roasted almonds or pistachios
pinch of salt
pasta of your choice (cooked)
red pepper flakes to garnish

Combine basil, garlic, Parmesan Cheese, olive oil, almonds and salt in a food processor. Blend to a smooth pesto.
Pour on hot cooked pasta and stir so pesto is evenly combined.
Garnish with red pepper flakes for a added kick.

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The Best Snickerdoodles Recipe
via: Lil' Luna

1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 TB sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon

Mix together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.
Cream together sugar and butter. Add eggs and blend well.
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix well.
Shape dough into 1 inch balls and roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees. (Makes about 4 dozen cookies)

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Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls
Author: Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps

1 package puff pastry
1 pound bulk breakfast sausage (I use jimmy dean)
¾ cup minced onion
¾ cup chopped cooked potato
2 tablespoons fresh sage
1 teaspoon salt
pinch of red pepper flake
1 egg + 1 tablespoon water mixed together
Worstershire sauce for dipping

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Lightly roll out each puff pastry sheet with a rolling pin. You just want to extend the puff pastry a bit. Cut each
into thirds, lengthwise, you should still be able to see the fold line to guide you.

3. In a bowl mix together, sausage, onion, potato, sage, salt and red pepper flake. Transfer to a ziplock baggie, cut
the tip off and pip the filling along the long edge of the dough. Should be about ½ inch of filling.

4. Roll dough, jellyroll fashion, seal edges.

5. Chill for 20 minutes or overnight.

6. When ready to bake, cut into 1 inch pieces. Place on baking sheet (non-greased), brush with egg wash, and
bake for about 20 minutes until pastry is golden brown.

7. Serve with worsteshire sauce.