Lazy Risi e Bisi (Rice and Peas)

Peas and rice make a simple and nutritious vegetarian meal. I am no chef, so the easier, the better. I made this yummy recipe twice this weekend while my husband was away. I made it for him tonight, and he loves it, too.

(Lazy) Risi e Bisi (Rice and Peas)
adapted from the April/May/June 2009 Issue of Something Extra from Raley's

1. Combine equal parts cooked rice and cooked peas (I used frozen peas and microwaved them with a few tablespoons of water, but I only cooked them enough to thaw them to a warmish temperature).

2. Add freshly ground black pepper, grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and dried basil to taste.

3. Mix everything together and enjoy!

The next time I make this, I will use fresh basil -- if it's this good with the dehydrated stuff, imagine how great it will be with fresh basil! For more flavor, you could add pine nuts and cook the rice in vegetable broth.

Ta ta for now,
Sylvie

Prezzie

I made this gift card holder out of the 100 percent postconsumer content (PC) craft felt I mentioned here. Inside is a present for my friend's 60th birthday. He has a new dog, so I got him a gift certificate to PetSmart. This friend loves trees and recycled-content products, so I think he'll like this gift.
To make the leaf as realistic as possible, I used a scanning of a leaf from a Valley Oak in our front yard (it's a small, volunteer tree that grows over our driveway and blocks our car; since we have to trim it occasionally, I scanned some leaves from a trimmed limb). I also tried to follow the leaf's veination.

Ta ta for now, yet again,
Sylvie

Animals

A local wildlife rescue group brings some neat animals to
Walk on the Wildside each year.
Here are a few of this year's visitors:

Poquita, a prehensile-tailed porcupine, or Coendou. She is from a zoo in Florida that was shut down because it wasn't "caring for the animals properly." She has the funniest face and is effing adorable. What a neat animal!!

A 16-month old black bear cub munching on grapes

The position of the logo on the handler's shirt makes it look like
this alligator is wearing a flaming crown at a jaunty angle :-)

What a handsome brute!

My in-laws are moving, and their new property comes with a ram and two goats. I haven't met them yet, but I have named them -- I plan to call the goats Schwanli and Baerli and the ram Nasturtium.

Ta ta for now,
Sylvie

Embroidered lotus

This is one of my favorite Vogart patterns. It's the second time I've embroidered it. This one is for a friend at work that I walk with every Wednesday at lunch (she made some pretty beaded jewelry for me last year). I painted an embroidery hoop and "framed" the piece in it.


You can't really tell from this photo (see below), but I used sparkly metallic thread to add some subtle highlights.
Well, the baseball game is about to start.

Ta ta for now,
Sylvie

Embroidery patterns for vegetarians

Embroidery patterns for vegetarians. The lobster is my favorite.

Recycled-content felt at Joann

I was shopping for yarn at JoAnn, and I found recycled-content craft felt there (it's from the Kunin Group). Most of the colors are 100 percent postconsumer (PC) plastic (the red is only 50 percent PC). What is really cool is that, of the pre-cut craft felt choices at the store, almost all of them are recycled products. Another great use for old soda bottles.

3-24-08

Here are a couple of things from a walk that we took yesterday.

On our way to the river parkway, we found this hummingbird nest on a neighbor's lawn.

Umbels please me.

Ta ta for now,
Sylvie