On The Way, Week 31

{1} Pre-Hurricane Food Prep {2} First Snowfall {3} Impromptu Indoor Holiday Decoration {4} Dramatic Sunset

What's Up With Washi?

I've been out of touch. Out of touch, that is, with Etsy. For awhile I was on there constantly. Maybe it's because of Pinterest. Maybe it's because I am trying to be fiscally conservative! No matter the reason I think I need to get back into it. If you are not familiar with Etsy - well come out from under your rock! I mean really - it has grown soooo much since my sister and I "discovered" it years ago while searching for outlets to market our crafty wares. There is so much about it I love. It is really beautifully designed, managing to be both minimalist and chock full of information all at the same time. It pioneered some brilliant little widgets that really serve web marketing well. And of course there is the wonderful collection of artists who have made Etsy their home. Check out a few of my favorites: for charming handcrafted party and paper goods (including a fine selection of Japanese Washi tape):  Back to Zero and Sunshine & Ravioli; for artisan-style jewelry there's Artisan Look and Lavender Cottage plus these shops, featured above, for fashion, home decor and fine art.

On The Way, Week 30

There are no pretty pictures this week. Since Monday the only images I've captured that I'd like to share are courtesy of Hurricane Sandy. We didn't fare too badly up here, about 70 miles north of the city but family, friends and fellow New Yorkers and New Jerseyans surely did. If you can, please, help them out. Here are 3 ways that have been vetted by local authorities. Thanks.

The Red Cross: To Make A $10 Donation (Added To Your Cell Phone Bill) Text REDCROSS to 90999 or log onto RedCross.org

Donations Targeted for Staten Islanders: https://sisandyrelief.eventbrite.com/

Donations Targeted for Breezy Point Where 111 Homes Were Lost To Fire In Addition To Those Damaged or Destroyed By Water: https://www.wepay.com/donations/in-good-company-hospitality-relief-fund

New Kid On The Blog, November 2012: Making It Lovely

There are so many good and so many bad designs on the web. It amazes me that anybody cares so little to make a website look like this! But I guess I can put up with that when I also get to see ones like this. It's a touchy subject amongst bloggers. To custom design (& host) or not to custom design. A pleasant conversation between two casual friends came to a sudden, uncomfortable end over this topic. Podcast partners, Joy and Tracy, independently successful bloggers, nearly came to blows over it. The thing of it is, what matters is not how it's made but how it looks. I've come to realize, as with life itself, it's best to have a vision and stick to it. That's what makes Nicole's "Making It Lovely" blog, well, so lovely. Her obvious pleasure using pale pinks & corals (set off by whites & other neutrals) infuses every thing from her backgrounds to the furniture, fashion, paint - even the kids' Halloween costumes - that she posts about. Peruse her blog and let me know if you like it too!

On The Way, Week 29

{1} Sunrise, Lake Mombasha {2} Wonton Ravioli {3} Sunrise, Rock Ridge Farm

{4} Autumn Morning, Nucifora Road

Cranberry Chocolate Chip Scones

Aren't these lovely? Oh my they look good. And I LOVE scones. All buttery and subtle and melt-in-your-mouthy! They are sly little devils too because they seem a bit dry and crumbly when you take your first bite. Then the magic happens as the butter warms and kicks off a little party in your mouth. Oh yeah! Unfortunately these scones are not like those scones. These scones are healthy, whole grain scones. Bleck. I have tried making these 3 times now and I guess I am ready to finally call them a lost cause. I think it's because - like shortbread or croissants - without the butter there is no such thing as a tasty scone. The original recipe called for a bit of canola oil, whole wheat pastry flour, pecans and cranberries. I thought they were okay so I tried making them with a bit more oil the next time. It didn't improve them much. This time I thought if I swapped the pecans for chocolate chips it might make them more moist. It did improve the flavor but the texture remained coarse and overall a bit sour. So I guess scones will remain one of those special treats for a special day.

On The Way, Week 28

{1} Cranberry Chocolate Chip Scones {2} First Fire of The Season

{3} Morning Frost

{4} Sunrise in Middletown