Tote Bag Makeover: From Meh to Bee-utiful!

January 13, 2014.Reading time 3 minutes.

It is no secret that I love bees. When the hospital gift shop displayed tote bags with a giant queen bee on them, I was first in line. However, the bag was bigger/floppier than I would like and the straps were pretty cheap and took away from the focal point. But I am a crafty […]

Vietnamese Style Baked Savory Sweet Hoisin Chicken Wings and Beef Meatballs

January 10, 2014.Reading time 8 minutes.

In other words …… Cánh gà nướng tương and Chả Đùm! I am often asked if I cook Vietnamese food, given that my hubs and inlaws are from Vietnam. The answer is I can but my MIL often brings us food, so if I cook it is not Asian. I don’t want to hear the […]

Reach & Read: The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry

January 7, 2014.Reading time 3 minutes.

The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry By Kathleen Flinn: A Book Review I love food memoirs and Kathleen Flinn’s second book is no exception. In this book, she shares her experiences while attending the prestigious cook school in the universe (probably) Le Cordon Bleu, in an engaging non-pretentious fashion. As in her other […]

Books in The Rear View: 2013

January 5, 2014.Reading time 3 minutes.

I really love graphs and reading and graphs about reading! This past year has been a great year for me on many levels, but one facet I am quite proud of is my blog. I posted more than 150 original entries this year on, as expected, a variety of topics: Coop to Craft. Hive to […]

Reach & Read: All Things Bright and Beautiful

January 4, 2014.Reading time 2 minutes.

Things Bright and Beautiful By James Herriot – a book review Bright and Beautiful is the second book in the charming series by James Herriot. In the Spring of 2013, I read his All Creatures Great and Small. Here is its review – the best part was sharing the experience with my grandmother. Bright and […]

Simple Fabric Table Runner – Tutorial

December 31, 2013.Reading time 8 minutes.

Need a quick table runner for a party or quick room spruce-upper? All you need is some fabric, sewing machine, thread, scissors, iron, pin or two and a little time… I made this quick table runner out of some yardage of sparkly cotton fabric I had in my stash. I had about a little less […]