Dove's Campaign

If you were watching the Super Bowl, you probably saw the Dove commercial about girls' thoughts, feelings & esteem. It may have made you think, smile, or even scoff. As a mother of two daughters, each beautiful in their own unique ways, I found it interesting, touching and sad, as well. I have been to the website, read some interesting things, and wanted to share.
Here's the site: http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/
and
"Let's give self-esteem a little boost".
http://www.dove.us/real_beauty/default.asp

Greenland's Glaciers Melting

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/02/16/greenland.glaciers.ap/index.html

This is an interesting article on glacial melting!! Here is a bit of the article found at the address above:

"An increase in surface air temperatures appears to be causing the glaciers to flow faster, albeit at the still-glacial pace of eight miles to nine miles a year at their fastest clip, and dump increased volumes of ice into the Atlantic.

That stepped-up flow accounted for about two-thirds of the net 54 cubic miles of ice Greenland lost in 2005. That compares with 22 cubic miles in 1996, Rignot said."

Knit

Well, my oldest daughter taught me to knit last Feb but I didn't really get into it until this winter. I have knitted scarves for my aunt, my mom, my sis in law, my mom in law and my two girls. My attempt on the girls' wasn't too hot, but they were first and they don't judge. :) I have enjoyed the basic knit scarf. One stitch top to bottom. However, my brother's wife came down and said, here's how you purl... Ahhh. It's been harder than I thought. I am working on it. :) I need to get scarves made for my grams, too. So, in the vein of informing, here are the basics to knitting and purling. It truly is relaxing. My mom cross stitches and with the pattern, counting, highlighting what is done, many threads, it can be hard, esp to do in the car! But knitting (at least a scarf with one basic stitch) is easier. However, I'm not attempting a sweater where counting and a pattern are also necessary!
Found this at: http://www.craftown.com/knitlesson.htm

How To Knit

CO= Cast On

Make a slip knot on the needle about two yards from the end of the yarn. (This amount varies according to the number of stitches to be cast on, but always allow plenty!) Holding needle in right hand, loop end of yarn around left thumb and hold it in the left palm. Insert tip of needle into loop on thumb, pass yarn leading to the ball around needle from back to front, draw yarn through loop. Slip loop off thumb and tighten stitch thus formed on needle.

Knitting

K=Knit

Holding needle with cast-on stitches in your left hand and second needle in your right, with yarn at back insert tip of right-hand needle into the first stitch from left to right, front to back. With right hand, pass yarn under and over tip of right-hand needle, draw yarn through stitch, and slip stitch just worked in off.

Purling

P=Purl

Holding needle with stitches in your left hand and second needle in your right, with yarn at front insert tip of right-hand needle into first stitch from right to left, back to front. With right hand, pass yarn over and under tip of right-hand needle, draw yarn through stitch, and slip stitch just worked in off left-hand needle.

Increasing

Inc=Increase

Work the stitch as usual but do not slip the stitch just worked in off the left-hand needle; work again in the same stitch inserting the needle into the back of the stitch. Now slip the stitch worked in off the left-hand needle.

Another method of increasing is to knit one stitch in the back of the stitch in the row below, then knit the stitch above as usual.

Decreasing

Dec= Decrease

If knitting, insert tip of right-hand needle into second stitch on left-hand needle, then into first stitch; work the two together as one stitch.

If purling, insert tip of right-hand needle into first stitch on left-hand needle, then into second stitch; work the two together as one stitch.

SL 1, K 1, PSSO

SL=slip. K=Knit. PSSO= Pass slipped stitch over.

Slip stitch from left-hand needle to right-hand one without knitting it. Knit the next stitch. Insert tip of left-hand needle into the slipped stitch, pass it over the knitted stitch, and off needle.

Yarn Over

YO= yarn over

If knitting, bring yarn to front of work, over right-hand needle to back, and then knit the next stitch.

If purling, wind yarn completely around the right-hand needle from front to back. and then purl the next stitch.

Casting on during work

Turn work so needle to which yarn is attached is held in left hand. Insert tip of right-hand needle into first stitch, pass yarn under and over and draw it through stitch; leave stitch worked in on left-hand needle.

Transfer new stitch from right-hand needle to left-hand, needle. Repeat for the required number of stitches, then turn work again and continue as the directions specify.

Emeril's Venison Chili

The husband and I went to an adult-only-chili party last night. It is an annual event held by some friends. They have always had it on our daughter's birthday weekend, so we couldn't go in previous years, but they moved it this year, so we were able to attend. After discussion and debate, we went with a venison chili. It's recipe name (the recipe is below) is originally Tex-Mex Venison Chili, but we adapted our chili title to "Tex-Mex Bambi Chili". We used venison from a deer Dad got last year, steaks and ground. Hubby's hard work won him the "Most Original Chili" award at the party-and a bottle of Red Truck wine! :) The chili is a bit on the spicy side, but is good. We're eating some more when our bball team plays this afternoon! Try it, it's extra lean meat and it tastes like beef!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_22137,00.html

Tex-Mex-style Venison Chili

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2003
Show:	Emeril Live
Episode:	Kicked Up Venison

1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 pounds boneless venison rump, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 pound ground venison, or ground pork
1 tablespoon Essence, recipe follows
2 cups chopped yellow onions
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 to 3 large jalapenos, seeded and minced, to taste
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried Mexican oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1 (15 1/2-ounce) can crushed tomatoes and their juices
1 (12-ounce) bottle beer
1 1/2 cups beef stock
2 tablespoons masa harina
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Grated cheddar cheese, garnish (Longhorn: recommended)
Minced yellow onions, garnish
Cornbread, corn muffins or garlic bread, optional accompaniment In a large, heavy pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the meat and Essence, and stir with a long-handled wooden spoon to break up the pieces. Cook, stirring, until the meat is brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add the onions, garlic, jalapenos, chili powder, pepper flakes, paprika, cumin, oregano and salt, and cook, stirring, until the onions are soft, about 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juices, beer, and stock. Stir well and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the meat is tender and cooked through, about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

In a small bowl, dissolve the masa in the water and stir to make a thick paste. Add to the chili and stir to incorporate. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the cilantro. Adjust the seasoning, to taste.

Ladle into chili bowls. Sprinkle with grated cheese and minced onions. Serve with hot cornbread, muffins or garlic bread, as desired.

Essence (Emeril's Creole Seasoning):
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
1 tablespoon dried thymeCombine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.

Yield: about 2/3 cup

Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

Courtesy & Chivalry

"Life is not so short but that there is always time for courtesy and chivalry."-Emerson

A Reminder for Me

"Your children will become what you are, so be what you want them to be."-Doris Lessing

Goodness Within

"Goodness is the only investment that never fails."-Henry David Thoreau

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mitford

I recently completed an terrific series of books. They are the Mitford books by Jan Karon. They are fictional, surrounding "Father Tim" and the small town he resides in, as well as the townspeople's interesting lives. The first book started a little slow for me, but I quickly fell in love with these books-devouring every one until I had to wait for the next to be published. The last book in the series was in November and I finished it the week it came out. I shared the series with my friends and they love it, too!
Here's the website: http://www.mitfordbooks.com/index.asp
The books truly are heartwarming and leave you with a good feeling, as well as a feeling of: read the next book!! :)

Currently I am reading A Taxonomy of Barnacles by Galt Niederhoffer. I haven't gotten too far into it, but the review I read was good and intriguing. So, hopefully I will like it. :)