State of the Me - grab bag

[salixbabylon]

Man and Dog

G’s gone for the next 12 days to Burning Man (http://www.burningman.com/), a big festival in the middle of the Nevada desert. People make big art installations and it’s a huge party. I hate the desert, so I planned on staying home to babysit the dog.

Which turned out to be a good thing, because Hershey broke his leg 3 weeks ago, and he’s got 5 more weeks in the cast. As you know, he’s a pretty energetic big dog, so we’re having to sedate him so he will rest and let the bones heal. Not fun. :P



Work

Work has been super busy, but I love it. We’ve hired some more people, and I have two minions under me now! I work directly under the Editor-in-Chief and manage the department, keep all the editors and production assistants on task and on schedule. While I wanted to grow up to be somebody “important”, with a professional career and everything, I love working for a queer publishing company, and I love what I do. I’m really good at organizing and coming up with procedures, and taking care of business. It’s satisfying to be in a place that’s such a good fit.

It’s also great to work from home. At 20-30 hours per week, I get more done than I ever did at a 40 hours/week job, and still have time for myself. My house is tidy (well, mostly), and I’m currently going through all the cupboards and drawers and closets tying to get rid of crap.

Projects

I’ve put aside kitting socks for a while, and I’m crocheting a blanket. It’s going to be patchwork, with every other patch a sold square of variegated yarn, and the other patches rainbow striped granny squares, like a checkerboard. I hope it turns out to look good, but mostly I had a bunch of skeins of that supersaver acrylic yarn and this seemed like a good project to use them up. I’ll post a picture when I’m done.

Also, my friend is teaching a sewing class next month, and I’ve decided to enroll. Sewing usually makes me cry with frustration. Hopefully with eight weeks of sewing class, I’ll have an attitude adjustment. And since we work on whatever projects we want, maybe I can finally get all my mending and alterations finished. And make those quilts I have owed people for about 4 years…

Baking

Also, I have been baking! I made croissants!

It was a lot of work, but not difficult at all, just time consuming. You make the dough, don’t knead it, then let it rest overnight in the fridge. Then you put in the block of butter, let it rest for an hour in the fridge, roll it out, fold it, let it rest for an hour again, and repeat that 4 times before resting overnight again! Then you make the croissants, let them rise for 3 hours, and finally bake them. They were DELICIOUS! Not perfect-looking, of course, but fantastic, especially with some home-made strawberry jam.





I also took half the dough and made chocolatines/pain au chocolate – with a layer of chocolate in the middle. Heavenly!





Shoes
Also, I bought glitter-covered green sneakers yesterday! Yay!

Comments

[nverland]

Totally loving the shoes! And the rolls are beautiful! (I miss having an oven).

[forhimxx.livejournal.com]

love the shoes!, god i hate baking so kudos to you .

croissants

[edmond manning (from livejournal.com)]

Totally impressed by the croissants. :-)

[mellacita.livejournal.com]

Wow, croissants. I saw them on FB and was so distracted by how delicious they looked that I couldn't even say anything! I will have to try it sometime.

[jackieville.livejournal.com]

*cuddles Hersey and mommmy* Sends quick healing wishes!!!!

So happy to see all the wonderful things you're doing!!!! *cheers* So inspiring!!!

[rifleman-s.livejournal.com]

*pets Hershey* (great name!) Hope he heals before it drives you mad! *grin*

"It’s satisfying to be in a place that’s such a good fit." Oh yes, that's really the only way to work!

Gorgeous shoes . . .

Sewing and baking are my bete noirs too - so well done you in doing something about it. Your croissants and pains-au-chocolate have set my tummy rumbling :D

[silvan-lady.livejournal.com]

Love the croissants and the shoes!

SO glad you are happy where you work - it makes such an incredible difference to life, doesn't it?

[writethings.livejournal.com]

I approve your idea of staying at home. This baby seems to need you too much right now. * sending hugs and kisses to him * I'm a dog lover. Can't see one and not pet it. Mine are already spoiled. ;) People look weird to me when I'm with them, because I say "come with mommy", and then they look and see it isn't a baby, but dogs. :)
So good to know that you like your work! I think life is much more enjoyable when we work with what we like. :)
Ok ok, this is another love of my life. Food. I really appreciate a good food, and yours look delicious. Here my mom is who cook. I've tried, but I'm awful at it. The only one thing that I make is cake. I'm really good at baking cakes. I suck at all the rest.
I like your shiny shoes! :) Crafts, personification of clothes and shoes or anything else, it is with my niece and my mother. I'm a mess with glue, scissors and a pot of glitter. Anyone who knows me, do not let me handle these things.

[heartofslash.livejournal.com]

Poor puppy. I'm sure you've been giving him loads of attention though.

Totally awed by the croissants. I've never made anything that fancy. Very cool.

And the sneakers. Well. The are simply bitchin'.