Ahh.... The Good Life!

Hey, just wanted to let you know I've posted my finished doll on my One of a Kind Art blog! I think he turned out pretty good! Go check him out.

Native American doll.

I'd like to tell you a little bit about a game that I actually like. Unlike most console games (i.e. PS2, XBox, Wii, etc.) it has no violence, and is suitable for adults, as well as children. I haven't seen many games that fit that description.

This particular game is called Katamari Damacy. There are several Katamari games, but this is the one I've played.


The premise is simple, when the King of All Cosmos accidentally destroys all the stars in the sky, he orders his princely son to put the twinkle back in the heavens above.

The little prince then proceeds through different worlds rolling a ball. This ball collects things that are in the world. When it rolls over them, they stick to it, and the ball keeps growing. You never know what you might pick up.

You start out by picking up small things, such as cookies, kabobs, maybe even talking watches. As your ball grows larger, you can pick up larger items, such as lawn mowers, people, bull dozers, even ferris wheels!

It's really quite silly, but it's also very addicting! If you can't stand all the games with violence, and other "mature content", then you might want to try Katamari Damacy, or one of it's siblings.

When you go to the website, there is a little circle with links you can click. If you click the one called Presents, you will find a couple games, and one is an online version of Katamari Damacy. It's really not quite the same as the console version, but it will give you a little bit of a feel for how you collect things. Of course, the console version is more like you're walking around in these worlds, where as the online version just has you moving about a little square.

Check out this You Tube video to see the game actually being played. Make the Moon on Katamari Damacy

If you have the internet, it's not too hard to believe you've researched one or more of your hobbies or interests. Have you ever wished you could find other people with similar interests? I know, sometimes it seems like a daunting task.

After years of trying different things, some worked some didn't, I have found one that I really like. And, it's so simple, it's not even funny!

Blogs! Yep, you heard me right. All I have to do is a blog search on Google for the interest of my choice. No doubt, there will be a few. So, there's one possible new friend. The part that I really like though, is when bloggers use what is called a Blogroll. This is a list of blogs they like. And it's very likely those blogs will be about the same interest.

So, when I find a Blogroll on a blog I've enjoyed, I start blog surfing! I've found so many nice people that way!

Of course, this is just one way. There are other great ways to meet like minded folks! What is your favorite way?

As some of you may know, I love art dolls, and enjoy making them myself. I use polymer clay and other mixed media. Some are all clay, and some have soft bodies.

I've learned a lot from a lot of different places, but one thing that holds true, is dolls need armatures. There are many ways to make them. Some use foam, some use aluminum foil, and some use wire, just to name a few. I tend to use a mix of foil and wire.



Right now, I'm making a doll for my hubby's Granny for Christmas, and I used this mixture. I hadn't made a soft bodied doll before, though, so I wanted to get some ideas of how to form the armature. They can sometimes be hard to find, but I didn't have to make any travel deals to get these. Luckily, I typed in the right words and found The Magic Bean's blog! She has a very good article that points us to a couple really helpful tutorials. I used one of them for the doll I mentioned above. You can see the progress I've made so far on that page.

With only a few days left till Christmas, I've been looking through my recipe box for all those tasty treats I want to fix for the family. With Santa and toys probably the number one things people think of, I'd say the second has to be all the wonderful food we have when people get together. I don't care if you're in Parkersburg or Vegas, people love to indulge at this time of year. So, hear are a few of my favorite recipes for you to try!



Eggnog

• 12 egg yolks
• 5 cloves, whole
• 4 cups milk
• 4 cups cream
• 3 cups light rum
• 1-3/4 cups sugar
• 2-1/2 teaspoons vanilla essence
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
• 3/4 teaspoon nutmeg, ground

In a saucepan over low heat, blend the milk, cinnamon, cloves and half a teaspoon of the vanilla essence. Keep stirring while mixture heats, and remove from heat just before boiling point.

In a bowl, mix together the sugar with all those egg yolks. Make sure you whisk them well so that they're light and fluffy. Gently and a little at a time, pour in the milk mixture while continuing to whisk.

Transfer mixture back into your saucepan over a medium heat while continuing to stir. Keep stirring until your eggnog mixture starts to resemble custard. Never let the mixture reach the boiling point.

Pour and strain the mixture into a jug, making sure to remove the cloves. Stand jug in the fridge for an hour or two. Gently stir in the cream, light rum, remaining vanilla and ground nutmeg.

Put back into the fridge overnight. Serve in cups with a little extra ground nutmeg, cinnamon or baking cocoa sprinkled lightly on top.

Gingerbread Cookies

• 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2/3 cup dark corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2/3 cup butter
• 1 egg
• 4 cups flours

DIRECTIONS

1. Put sugar, syrup, spices and salt in a large saucepan ( mix cookies in saucepan) bring to a boil.
2. Add soda and butter; stir until butter melts.
3. Quickly stir in egg, then add flour, mix well.
4. Chill until firm enough to roll, then roll on lightly floured surface to about 1/4" thickness.
5. Cut in shapes.
6. Bake on parchment paper in preheated 325 degrees F. oven about 15 mins.
7. Cool on racks.
8. Decorate with frosting, using pastry tube with fine point.
9. Makes about 36 five inch cookies.

Frosting

• 1 egg white
• 1 cup plus 2 to 3 Tablespoons powdered sugar

In a small bowl of mixer, beat the above until smooth enough to squeeze through a pastry tube for decorating ** add more powdered sugar if necessary.


Roasted New Potatoes

• 1 1/2 pounds small new potatoes (scrubbed)
• 3 cloves garlic (thinly sliced)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil or canola oil
• 1/2 teaspoon crumbled rosemary (optional)

Because most of their nutrients are directly beneath the skin, don't peel new potatoes. Just scrub and cook.

Makes 8 servings.

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a large bowl, combine the potatoes with the garlic, oil, and rosemary, if using.

Transfer to a roasting pan and roast about 45 minutes or until golden and cooked through.

Who?

Who you ask?

That's it exactly! He tried to take it from the Who's. The Grinch, that is.

Of course, I'm speaking of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! That Chuck Jones classic Christmas special. It just wouldn't be Christmas without it, in my book. How about you?


Released December 18, 1966, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a story of a grumpy hermit that tries to steal Christmas from the good people of Whoville.

After almost succeeding, he has a change of heart when he realized that love was what made the Who's happy on Christmas.

Of course, the kids of today like the movie with Jim Carey, but for me, there is nothing like the original. But I love all the Dr. Seuss shows, too! I told you I'm a big kid! LOL

Image via WikipediaBeing a big kid at heart, I am still in love with everything I loved as a child. I still play with dolls, but, of course, now I'm making them. I wish they made adult size Inchworm ride on toys. And, I giggle like a goofball at my Muppet Show collection.






But, one of my favorite things, even all year long, are the tv Christmas Specials of my youth. Of course, there is the Charlie Brown Christmas, with their pitiful little tree. But my real passion lies in all of the Rankin Bass shows.

Who could resist Rudolph? By the way, you can click this photo to get it as wallpaper!

But Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is not the only classic that Rankin Bass put out over the years.

I know some of them are kinda goofy, but that's just fine with me, cause so am I! LOL







Here is a list of the shows I remember:

• The First Christmas
• Frosty the Snowman
• Frosty's Winter Wonderland
• Jack Frost
• The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold
• The Little Drummer Boy
• Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
• Rudolph's Shiny New Year
• Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
• 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
• The Year Without a Santa Claus

I think my favorite is 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Remember the little mouse didn't believe in Santa? And he broke the big clock. Gee, I hope they had home owner insurance!

Would you like to own The Original Television Christmas Classics (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town / Frosty the Snowman / Frosty Returns / The Little Drummer Boy)? I sure would! I've been hinting to my hubby, but you know how that goes. LOL

This year Americans used the democratic way, and voted to elect a new president.  And what an exciting thing it is.  For the first time in American history, we have an African American president.  I, personally, think that is a good thing.  I hope Mr. Obama does what he's promised, and makes this historic decision one that will be remembered fondly in our history books.

Hey Peeps!

I just discovered a website that I want to tell you about! It's called Picnik. It has been out there for a while, but I hadn't tried it till now. It's a hoot, let me tell you!

If you like to use digital images in any way, you need to try it out. Not only does it do the normal fixes, but it has several very fun features, as well! And, can you believe you don't have to download anything? It does it all on the site. So cool!

For instance, here is a silly pic I made of my Mom!


I called it their "Christmas card"! LOL Isn't that fun?

Below are a couple screen shots I took while I was first playing with it. Notice all the neat things you can add or alter your photo with! If you haven't checked it out yet, I highly recommend it! Oh, did I mention it's FREE??? Yeah!!!