A Box and Some Bars

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends thanks again for stopping by and for your kind comments and emails!!!  Especially about my colour/floss changes to the February Cottage - I know that I can be super butt-headed at times about things.  I can also get on my high horse and just do my own thing -  knowing that about me probably excuses my crazy need to change and adapt some of the floss choices that Designers make.  I also know that some folks out there would consider it sacrilege to change anything, but I look at it like - I am stitching for me and I'm gonna be happy first and foremost - and it is a hobby and not the end all things to change something...  so let it slide and be happy with what you are doing!!  An odd statement I know, but I do get some odd emails occasionally.....

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The San Francisco Gift-a-way Box arrived at Tracey's all in good order with nothing broken or missing!!!  So I can now post a snap of what I sent.

I always had in the back of my mind the basic contents of what I wanted to send, but I also wanted the Winner to get something tailored to their likes and be an SF Treat - hence the questions ....  Tracey likes Milk chocolate - so the Lux Milk Chocolate from Ghiradelli was appropriate - she also likes ground lighter coffees so Blue Bottle (a local roaster we really like) was always in the mix (for coffee drinkers) and this is one of their fruitier medium/light roasts.  I also wanted to include some very local things - I live in Noe Valley (a section of SF) and about 2 blocks from where I live is a great little restaurant called Lovejoy's Tea Room.  They make and sell some really delicious Lemon curd and they also carry some honey gathered up right here in the Valley - so I knew I wanted to include those treats.  We ran down to the Ferry Building and picked up the great pink salt and the caramels - the flavour ones are not from SF, but pretty tasty, the large sea-salt one is made locally. Tracey, like me, enjoys a more chewy candy so I picked up some of her faves to include in the box.  I really enjoyed putting it all together and sending out a little bit of SF!!  

I am thinking up another Gift-a-Way for the Spring so keep a look out!!

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I posted the Mud Hen Bar recipe over at Blacksheep Bakes - it got rave reviews from some of Rico's go-workers - so it is a real winner treat!!!

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I think about wraps up the day sports fans.  Again, thank you for stopping by do come again!!!!

Take care,

edgar

We have a Winner!! Some Stitchin'and some Nuts

Blogging Buddies it is a cold and breezy morning here in SF. The weather actually did drop quite a few degrees from Saturday to Sunday - so we are on track with what the weather magicians have predicted...  now lets see if we get some of that rain later on this week.

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Friday evening after I gathered up all the entries in the Gift-a-way drawing - I hauled out the BOD (bowl of destiny) and had the Hag Claw (Rico) draw a name...

and from the depths he drew forth a name...  Tracey!!!

She can be found over at "More than just Cross Stitching" a Blog that she hosts with a group of friends.  We spent some time Saturday and Sunday gathering up everything.  When I get her address off the box of goodies will fly....  Once Tracey has received it I will post a snap.  Congrats to Tracey - I wanted to thank everyone for their interest and entries - there where over a 140 comments!!

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I did some stitching....  here is a small bit I did.....

... on "Tis the Season" - not much to show, but it is coming along nicely.  I also started up the La D Da - travelling piece....

That snap looks odd - the piece is still in the q-snaps - I chose to stitch it on a piece of 35ct WDW "Havana" using Belle Soie silks - "Red Fox" with the accent "Chester's Blue."  

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Remember last week , Dale sent me some peanuts... and so I had a hankering for some sugar nuts... and since they are super easy to make, I got my rear in gear and made some.  The three ingredients are peanuts, sugar and water... et voila, something delicious to crunch on!!  Here are some step by step photos .....

Throw the nuts, sugar and water in a pan - turn the heat to medium high....  stir and stir until all the water evaporates....

Pour the dry sugar coated nuts onto a pan ....

... put the pan into a pre-heated 300/325 degree oven - and about every 10 or so minutes stir them around - and after about half hour they are roasted and deliciously enrobed in a crunchy sweet coat.  Let them cool off to room temp and enjoy!!

Easy peasy, they are really delicious - and should be stored in an airtight bag/container, they don't last long - so I am not sure how long they keep.

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I will leave you with a snap of the Bay Bridge,

After Mass we drove down to the Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street yesterday looking for breakfast, but there was nothing really open so we drove back to the Mission and had a great breakfast at The Pork Store. 

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That's about it for today sports fans - thanks for stopping by, do come again!!!

Take care,

edgar

A San Francisco Gift-A-Way

Good Morning Blogging Buddies thank you for your kind words about my "Exchange Collection."  I am delighted that you enjoyed the snaps of them and how I have them displayed.  This morning it is a cool and damp - and we are going into an cool overcast weekend - or so the news this morning reports - we shall see tomorrow.   I think our plans are to get back into the swing of Estate Sales and Thrifting.  I really miss the search, even if I don't find anything, I do enjoy looking.

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Now on to the Gift-a-Way drawing - I have been thinking the last few days how nice it was to turn over the 600 Follower Mark and I think a Gift-a-Way is just the ticket...  

Anyone from any where may enter - just be a Follower (that's the reason for the GaW) and answer these questions in your entry on this POST Only....

1. Do you Like Coffee or Tea?

2. If its coffee you like - Light, Medium or Dark roast?  - and - beans or ground?

3. If it's tea you like, would that be Loose or Bagged? - and - any particular flavour?

4. If its some Chocolate - would it be Dark or Milk? With nuts and fruits or without?

5. Do you have a Favourite Colour?

6. Do you Like Pink, Grey or White Salt?

7. Your Favorite Non-chocolate candy would be?

Easy-peasy - I am going to tweak the package to be a....

 .....very San Francisco-esque Collection of things - so don't be afraid to enter.  I will take entries from today 1/6/2012 until next Friday, 1/13/2012 at about 2:00 PM PST - and then announce the winner on Monday, 1/13/2012.  Make sure that in your entry I have a way to connect with you if you win.

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I think that about wraps up the week.  Thanks for stopping by and for being such great folks!!!!!

Take care,

edgar