friday the 13th soup

Since 13 is my lucky number, I decided to celebrate Friday the 13th with a 13-ingredient slow cooker soup. It's also my birthday today and I was born on Friday the 13th (hence the luck), and although the momentous celebration of this annual event will happen tomorrow, I still wanted a little something special tonight. So I came up with this. I'll pair it with a nice crusty bread.

Ingredients:
Ham, 2 thick slices precooked, cubed
Black beans, 2 cans
Carrots, 2 handfuls chopped
Celery, 2 stalks chopped
Diced tomatoes, 1 can
Chicken stock, 4 cups
Onion
Minced garlic, 1 tablespoon
Cumin, pinch
Chili powder, pinch
Red pepper flake, pinch
Salt, pinch
Pepper, pinch

Process:
Heat all ingredients in the slow cooker on low for 6 hours.

The Verdict:
We liked it. I may have added a tad more than a pinch of chili powder and red pepper flake, so it had some kick. My husband brought home some delicious cheesy mini bread rounds that soaked it up nicely.

celebrating a century

My great aunt Edna just turned 100. Over Easter weekend, her extended family and friends gathered to celebrate her life. It was a wonderful day of reunion and appreciation of aunt Edna, one another, and those we've lost and miss. The highlight of my day was watching my centenarian aunt skyping with her grandson in California. She couldn't hear the sound on the laptop, but she understood the technology and asked to "sign off" when she was done. Priceless.

Edna, 2012

Millie and Edna, ca. 1930

Millie and Edna, 1916

pretty in pink

With Christmas knits behind me, I'm relieved to finally make something fun (and guilt free!) all for myself. "Santa" brought me this sparkly fuchsia yarn; apparently he knew that pink sparkle was just so me. I wanted a pattern simple enough that the details wouldn't be lost, but not too simple to be boring (sparkly fuchsia just calls out for something exciting). "Snowtracks" was the perfect choice.
  

inky bliss

It may be nerdy or trivial. But I admit it. I get a silly little pang of glee at just the thought of it each January. There's something just so very satisfying about...

Changing the year on my date stamper

Every work day I roll those middle wheels and change the date. Once a month that first wheel gets a whirl. But only once a year does old wheel 3 get it's turn under my thumb. It's the perfect end to the year. Ca-chunk.