Baked Fish with Pasta-Veggie Salad

The heat and odd family schedules have put a damper on my cooking lately. Today was my day off, so naturally I worked like crazy to clean the house and catch up on laundry. Oddly enough, this kind of cleaning/nesting puts me in the mood to cook new things.

We've not had fish in a while and the tilapia was calling me from the freezer. It's a family favorite to bake it in a parmesan cheese-herb-bread crumb crust. The pasta salad was the new dish from one of Betty Crocker's cookbooklets "Great Pasta" . It was so yummy. I omitted the chicken as we already had fish on the menu and used more veggies from the garden instead. Shell pasta, about 2 cups of quartered cherry tomatoes, a whole bell pepper diced, and about 3 tbsp of olives. These are then tossed with 1/2 cup Miracle Whip (light) and 1/3 French Dressing (also light) then chilled. It was so creamy and tasty. Dessert was a blueberry cream cheese tart using fat-free cream cheese to keep the naughty factor down a little. Mr. B says he's saving the rest for breakfast tomorrow--as if it's all his! Looks like I need to change to date stamp on the camera. Poor thing keeps trying but hasn't been quite right since I dropped it in the lake on vacay. Oops.

Singin' the Blues

Down on Bittersweet Lane we're singin' the blues--the college registration blues. Although this is not my daughter, the photo captures her spirit completely. She is so lost and confused. Child #3 forgot to pre-register last term and now must join the melee that is mass-registration tomorrow. It's her last semester at the local community college before transferring to the bigger, more expensive University. She knows what she wants to be--social worker/counselor--but is hating the process needed to get there. Enter the procrastination. Mr B and I encourage her to make her own decisions but this is our "independent clinging vine". Like a wisteria, she's strong, lovely, and blooms profusely--as long as she has a strong support. She knows the answers, she can do this process and has several times now. She just has to map those last few classes that she needs against what she's already completed. Yet last night were wails of help, despair and doubt escalating into frustration and snappish remarks. Growing up, taking responsibility, making decisions--it's a scary process but one we all face eventually. I think the blues will be playing softly here for a few more days.....

Monday. Again.

photo: TNT

The best thing about Mondays---The Closer! I'll be making some whole wheat oatmeal raisin coookies as soon as I get off work to nibble on as I watch the show.

Take My Breath Away

I was just aimlessly surfing this morning while I try to caffinate a headache away and this beauty popped up. I actually gasped when I saw it. The neckline is to die for! Even though the gal in red looks rather evil--like some business exec. up to vieious, ambitious plotting--that's the one I'd wear in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, this pattern is already headed to a new home but there are lots of other beauties available at Lanetz Living. She has an amazing stock at great prices.

Reading and Sewing

Now who couldn't get her sewing mojo on when reading such a great book! The title alone makes you want to rev up your sewing machine. Erin McGraw's book, The Seamstress of Hollywood starts weaving its spell right off the bat. I'm half-way thru and can barely put it down. The main character Nell is so driven and possessed by very need to sew beautiful clothes; to make the most of each person that she possibly can. Reading it, a sewer can't help but be inspired to get sewing, too.....

Granted, its no glamous Jean Harlow satin gown cut on the very clingy bias, but it is sewing. It is needle and fabric and constructive process. Good, good and good. What I am sewing is: Butterick 4549,

view A, the pink one in the picture

A simple summer top, using simple, cool breathable cotton: a cute little lavender/white stripe with little bitty flowers I've had for a while. This is The South, so even though the pattern companies & designers are "doing Fall" now, it will still be hot, hot summer here until sometime in October. Lots of hot days for a cool top.

Quick Thoughts

Today I'll be shopping at Walgreens-- after work :( --using my lovely coupon:

They're having some great sales to go with lots of great coupons from Coupons.com and last weekends papers. This one's only good today so don't forget to use it!

Checking my e-mails this morning resulted in a lust-fest. I fell in love with this Jessica Howard dress. I love the beading on the waistband!It should be a cute dress, but all I see is a Bullseye. At hip level, no less!
But this is the one I most want, click on the dress: From ebay seller Oncillikat

It's a vintage Marion Martin pattern. I love the big faux-belt waist and the angled front button closure. I hesitate because I'm "trying" not to buy any patterns or fabric for a while. I'm also unsure of my skills in altering the dress for my larger measurements. Somebody please buy this dress first and put me out of my misery!