Annette's Acre

The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold

First in the Chalion Series.

This is what good epic fantasy is all about. It has great characters, compelling story, politics, a little magic, a few gods and a nice sprinkling of humor. This one will be read over and over. I’m just sorry I only ordered the first in the series and now I have to wait for the next book! 

Here is Lindsay’s UFO as I’m sending it off tomorrow (where it started):

I also finished the stitching for a Biscornu exchange from the Hooked on Exchanging group.  Can’t show that for obvious reasons….but it looks very nice

I picked up my framed Emerald Mermaid yesterday:

(Click for a larger picture)

She’s gorgeous.  Unfortunately I learned that my framers are retiring next year   I’ve got to take advantage of the time I have left with them!  Heaven knows what it will take for me to find comparable service.  They are absolutely wonderful.

I’m almost done with Curse of Chalion.  I ordered the next two books in the series Friday when I realized I was close to finishing and didn’t have them ready to go.  Love love love this book!  Thank you, Kate!  It’s my “van” book so getting more time than the others I’m reading.  A Curse Dark as Gold (my, a theme) is my “bedtime” book so I can savor the story.  It’s one of those that if I read it thru in a day (which I could, it’s that good) I’d sit and be disappointed it was over….

Kids are now addicted to  Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.  K has beat it on easy already and is working thru on medium.  Z does pretty well on several tracks (well, at least better than Mom does). I am waiting anxiously for Patapon.  I beat the demo quickly and can’t wait for the full version.

Time for a change!

Still need to replace the graphic, but otherwise I like it.

This is a classic beef stew recipe that I’ve used for years. We love it!

Beef Stew

1 1/2 lbs beef stew meat
3 Tbs flour
2 Tbs oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3 cups beef broth or stock
4 carrots
4 potatoes (about 1 lb)
salt & pepper

Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Toss beef with flour and 1 tsp salt. Brown beef (in batches) on all sides.  Remove from pot.  Add onion and garlic and cook covered over low heat until onion is soft, about 5 minutes.  Return the meat to the pot with the beef broth and bring to a boil (medium-high heat).  Reduce heat to low and cover, simmer until the meat is tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.  Peel carrots and potatoes and cut into chunks.  Add to pot with 1/2 tsp pepper.  Simmer an additional 45-60 minutes until vegetables are tender.   Season to taste.

I usually serve with bread of some sort (french bread or corn bread) and that’s it.  The nice thing about this recipe is that it is very versatile.  If you don’t like garlic, don’t use it!  Add additional herbs (marjoram or bay leaf would be good) or even other vegetables (I’ve dropped a few mushrooms in, much to the rest of may family’s distaste) to make it perfect for your family’s taste.

Today was Market Day at my LNS and here’s the haul.  I only got one thing technically not on my list (the Homespun Elegance tin at the top).  I had already planned on the Sarah Tobias book (the designs inside are great) and starting the Sweet Treats series from Crescent Colors.  The fabric and silks on the left are for LHN’s Brave Hearts (bought last week at the pre-Market sale).   This will be my first use of the Belle Soie silks.  I have Heart of America and My Needles’ Work coming from an ONS also.

I had hoped to find fabric for the Sweet Treats, but the one piece that I loved color wise (vintage magnolia from Lakeside Linens) was 40 ct.  Buttons are key elements on the design and I was afraid that drastic a change in count (calls for 28 ct) would mess with the buttons.  So tomorrow I’ll dig into the stash and see what I’ve got instead.

I picked up the JCS issue for the Mother’s Sampler.  I’ll have to poke around in the stash and see what I’ve got, I think the stash budget is about done for this month. LOL

I found this on a new-to-me blog Melissa the Mouth and thought it rather appropriate for the day before Valentine’s

A Marriage Meme

1. Where / how did you meet?

We met online thanks to AOL. He was in Tennessee, I was in Arizona. I had discovered the joy of talking to *real* people online of my age group (I was in the process of ending a bad marriage) and DH and I happened in to the same “room” very late one night (insomnia for me, a second shift work schedule for him) and we started talking….and talking….and talking….

2. How long have you known each other?

11 years in March

3. How long after you met did you start dating?

Depends on how you define “dating” LOL. In the traditional sense, it was about three months later when he flew to Phoenix for Memorial Day weekend. We had one verrrry long date that weekend.

In a “virtual” sense, within a couple weeks we were talking/email/calling daily to do the whole “get to know you” thing.

4. How long did you date before you were engaged?

We “met” in March. He proposed in late June (when I went to Tennessee for a visit).

5. How long was your engagement?

5 months!

6. How long have you been married?

10 years

7. What is your anniversary?

November 28th. We had to be in the Atlanta area for my grandparent’s surprise 65th wedding anniversary Thanksgiving week (they were married on Thanksgiving Day) and the Friday after was the most convenient day for everyone to head up to Tennessee for our wedding.

8. How many people came to your wedding reception?

About 25. I wanted something very casual. We had the reception at DH’s parents’ house.

9. What kind of cake did you serve?

White cake with white icing and fresh flowers and a chocolate cake with chocolate icing. Something for everyone!

10. Where was your wedding?

We were married in Chattanooga by a minister that was a close friend of DH’s family. He was retired but agreed to perform the ceremony for us.

11. What did you serve for the meal?

It was a barbecue. Grilled hamburgers, sausage, salads, etc.

12. How many people were in your bridal party?

Five total. My mother was my Matron of Honor, my daughter (7 at the time) was my “bridesmaid” and DH had his father for his Best Man.

13. Are you still friends with them all?

I can safely say “Yes.”

14. Did your spouse cry during the ceremony?

Yes
15. Most special moment of your wedding day?

Enjoying my family mix with DH’s family that day. I didn’t get to really “plan” a whole lot of the wedding as we were in Arizona (DH moved in July) and the wedding was in Tennessee. My mother and sister-in-law did the vast majority of the work (though I kept my wishes as simple as possible) and it was great to see them be able to enjoy the gathering along with my parents and brother. They all mixed together like they’d known each other for years.

16. Any funny moments?

Not on the day itself, but before and after. We flew to Chattanooga on Saturday before Thanksgiving to take care of wedding “stuff” prior to heading down to Atlanta for the anniversary party. One of those items was the license. On Tuesday morning we went to the clerk’s office to apply for the license before driving down to Atlanta. We had called (more than once) so we would know *exactly* what we needed to expedite the process. Only our drivers’ licenses and $25 (check was fine). When we got there we were told they needed our Social Security Cards as well! I always carry my SS card, but DH does not so we had to run to the Social Security office to get a printout. They accepted the documented “request for a new card” in lieu of the actual card. We get back, all is well until I take out the checkbook to pay. “We don’t take out of state checks.” Ack! Luckily we had just enough cash on us.

When we received the final license in the mail a few weeks later, we noticed the date was incorrect. According to the State of Tennessee we were actually married on the 29th. LOL

17. Any big disasters?

Not that I recall……

18. Where did you go on your honeymoon?

Home. After being in Tennessee/Georgia for a week, we headed home (with double the checked bags) on Saturday LOL. It was about five years before we went out of town alone. We went to San Diego for our fifth anniversary.

19. How long were you gone?

3 days for the San Diego trip. Left right after turkey on Thanksgiving and came home on Sunday.

20. If you were to do your wedding over, what would you change?

Nothing. It was a great day

21. What side of the bed do you sleep on?

My side, of course. It’s furthest from the door and the bathroom

22. What size is your bed?

Queen

23. Greatest strength as a couple?

We are each other’s best friends and depend only on each other. Together we can conquer the world!

24. Greatest challenge as a couple?

Finding time for each other as more and more demands are placed on us individually (career, kids, etc)

25. Who literally pays the bills?

He does.

26. What is your song?

Marc Cohn’s True Companion and Savage Garden’s I Want You

27. What did you dance your first dance to?

No dancing at our wedding
28. Describe your wedding dress.

Ivory suit with sheer sleeves. Mom and I searched for two weeks for something I liked that would travel well!

29. What kind of flowers did you have at your wedding?

Long stem red roses. Mom & K each carried one, I carried two and DH & Dad had them on their lapels.

30. Are your wedding bands engraved?

Not on the inside.  They do have an engraved pattern that runs around the outside.  We didn’t really have a firm idea of what we wanted and it took us forever to find something we both liked.  It wasn’t until the end of October when we happened on a serious sale at Montgomery Ward (department store, unfortunately now out of business).  We knew we didn’t have time to get the rings re-sized (due to the pattern that is all the way around) so we basically tried on rings until we found a matching pair in correct sizes. LOL

I have been blessed with a wonderful husband and I love him more each Valentine’s Day that passes…..

The Big Over Easy is the first in Jasper Fforde’s Nursery Crime series.  DI Jack Spratt and his Official Sidekick Mary Mary investigate the suspicious “fall” of Humpty Dumpty.  Fun for mystery fans and anyone familiar with nursery rhymes.

For the last couple years I’ve stitched DH a Pine Mountain Pillow design for Valentine’s Day.  Here is 2008:

He likes it