Five Forty at Home

Chocolate Dipped Expresso Shortbread

2009-12-09T10:30:00.004-05:00

white chocolate dipped

topped with shiny dragée's

Chocolate Dipped Expresso Shortbread

For the cookies:

1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2" pieces

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp. table salt

2 1/4 cups flour

2 tbsp. finely ground expresso beans

For the dipping chocolate:

9 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped

1 tbs. vegetable shortening

Combine the butter, sugar and salt in a large bowl and mix on low speed until the mixture is combined but not smooth. Add the flour and the ground expresso and mix on low speed until the mixture has pulled together. Do not overmix.

On a lightly floured surface roll out about 1/4" thick. Cut out with your favourite cookie cutters, and place on parchment lined cookie sheets. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Bake in a 300° F. preheated oven for 30 to 60 minutes, until the cookies look dry and have darkened slightly. Cool on racks.

Melt chocolate and shortening together over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Dip half of each cookie into the chocolate and set them on parchment until the chocolate has set up.

Makes about 7 dozen, 1 1/2" cookies.

I used melted white chocolate to dip my cookies into.

Handwoven Felted Recycled Wool Sweater Rag Rug .. Ivory, Yellow and Taupe

2009-11-29T18:33:00.004-05:00

I finally finished this felted wool sweater rug. The components were laying on my loom room floor for a couple of weeks. Life just got hectic here for a while, it is slowing down now. Thankfully!

handwoven felted wool sweater rag rug

ivory, yellow and taupe

Fire At Last!

2009-11-29T18:27:00.004-05:00

This is my final post about our new fireplace insert.

It works, the house is warm, well toasty roasty warm.

Yay!!

pacific energy fireplace insert, inserted!

Fireplace Insert is Inserted!!

2009-11-27T18:53:00.003-05:00

We had the fireplace WETT inspected today, and yahoo, it passed!! We will have our first fire in it tomorrow, I'm excited! One more job off the long long list!

front view

side view

Fireplace Insert Prep...

2009-11-15T17:30:00.004-05:00

We decided that it was time to do something with the big gaping unused hole in our living room. We are also tired of being so cold in this house every winter. Mark cut firewood in the spring, so we were part way there.

It's funny how a small job just keeps getting bigger. Today we laid the slate tile so we are on the home stretch, the end is in sight!

big gaping fireplace

stainless chimney liner in place waiting

cut line drawn on the carpet

Mark getting ready to cut away some of the hardwood floor, scary...

who knew there's such gorgeous hardwood under that awful carpet

cutting the hardwood

ready for the cement board

cement board going up

not a clear photo, but the new brick lip to support the front of the insert

Mark did a wonderful job!

cutting the slate tile, what a cool tool!

slate tile in place

now we have to let this set,

it will another 48 hours until we can grout

we're almost there,

soon this house will have some nice wood heat!

Pre-Holiday Sale

2009-11-12T16:52:00.006-05:00

PRE-HOLIDAY SALE

For the weekend of 11/13/09 through 11/15/2009 shop with TEAMT on Etsy.com

and save 10 to 20% on fabulous holiday gifts. Simply search for TEAMT under all items and start saving. Savings will be refunded via PayPal. See individual shops for details.

teamt and weekend deals

2009-09-24T16:59:00.008-04:00

This weekend, September 24-27, I am offering 10% off everything in my shop (excluding shipping fees) as part of the Etsy Weekend Deals. Please mention the code: WEEKEND DEAL, during checkout.

Get an early start on your holiday shopping, check out all the weekend deals offered by my fellow TEAMT members. Simply search all items for TEAMT and start saving, or click below for participating shops.

Recycled Textile Rag Rugs

2009-11-10T08:38:00.003-05:00

I have been very busy trying to build my rug inventory up for an upcoming sale in Thunder Bay, with Artisans Northwest. I have also accepted two consignments with different shops. I will discuss these shops in a different post.

I am weaving for the first time with mixed fibre, using more of the sweaters that come to me in my bales. I was only using pure wool, but have decided to utilize the wool blends as well. It makes economical sense for me, as I was giving most of the sweaters to thrift shops in the city. I will still be donating bags of sweaters but now, not quite as many.

I have less than two weeks till the sale so I must get at it, get myself busy cutting textile then weaving.

Boiled Egg For Lunch!

2009-11-03T18:18:00.003-05:00

I had a surprise and great thrill this morning when I came online to Etsy. My treasury was on the front page!

It is a fun little collection, and I hope the talented artisans have some sales from the exposure.

Thank you Etsy!

front page!

my treasury with alternatives!

Happy Halloween!!

2009-10-31T16:41:00.006-04:00

jack

in the dark

jack

o'lantern

I am behind schedule this week. I was in the city for most of the week, I had planned to be there for a couple of days but we had a dog emergency. Kinoje bloated, Mark made a quick trip at 4 in the morning. My brother and I met him there and we assisted the vet in putting a tube down the dogs throat to release the gas. Lucky for us and Kinoje it worked. He had bloated seven years ago and had the belt buckle thing done to his stomach so it could no longer twist. I must say when I walked into the clinic I did not recognize him as he bloated so largely. As his hair was standing on end he was stretched to the max. The vets had never seen so large of a bloat. Thank heavens he survived again.

I normally carve my pumpkin a few days before Halloween but I did it very quickly this morning. I am pleased with it mostly. I wish I know how to make the nose protrude more, I guess it would mean cutting back the rest of the face. Next year!

Happy Halloween!

North Shore Artists

2009-10-25T14:41:00.003-04:00

I am pleased and honoured to have been invited to join the new group North Shore Artists. We had out first show/sale in Marathon this past weeks end.

It was a fun weekend getting to know everyone, I think we are a fabulous collection of individuals! It is a very talented group and I am thankful to be invited in since I am not a painter.

theresa, paul, laura, rita, doug, ellie, pegg, sharon, bill

Thank you to Laura for the use of her photos!

Wedding Jewelry

2009-10-25T11:58:00.004-04:00

In the early spring,

one of my necklaces

and it's matching earrings

were purchased,

for a bride to wear

for her autumn wedding.

The wedding took place

a few weeks ago,

and the brides mother

kindly sent me a photo

of the bride and groom.

She looked lovely!

(her jewelry looked lovely too!)

Thank you Maureen and Jayne!

Old-Style Potatoes

2009-10-17T22:10:00.005-04:00

These potatoes are delicious and are the perfect accompaniment to Chicken in Green Sauce. I hope you enjoy both recipes!

Old-Style Potatoes

1-lb. potatoes, 4 medium, peeled
2 cups water
1/2 tsp. salt, or to taste
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped tomato
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 to 1 tsp. fresh or dry hot chile pepper, or to taste
2 tbsp. oil
2 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

1. Cook the potatoes in the water with the salt until soft but still firm. Drain and mash them for country style potatoes, do not puree them.
2. Fry the onion, tomato, black pepper and chile in the oil in a skillet over moderate heat for 3 minutes. Add the potatoes and mix well. Fry for 5 minutes more.
3. Serve warm and sprinkle with the cheese.
Serve warm with the Chicken in Green Sauce. Serves 4.

Chicken in Green Sauce

2009-10-17T21:55:00.003-04:00

This is an old favourite recipe using green tomatoes, end of summer autumn recipe! It is delicious, and easy to prepare!

Chicken in Green Sauce

3-lbs. boneless chicken breasts (or whole chicken cut up into serving pieces)
1 small onion, quartered
1 tsp. salt, or to taste
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup sliced green tops from onions
1 large green tomato, sliced
2 cloves garlic, sliced
2 tsp. flour
1 tsp. hot green chile slices or to taste

1. Cook the chicken, onion, and salt in 1-cup water in a saucepan over moderate heat for 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, process the green onions, tomatoes, garlic, flour and chile into a smooth paste with 1/2-cup water.
3. Add the green sauce to the chicken and continue to cook over moderate to low heat for 20 minutes. Serve warm.
Serve warm with Old – Style Potatoes.

I Finished Weaving a Rug Today

2009-10-17T18:40:00.002-04:00

I had the textile for this rug cut waiting on my loom room floor for almost a month, I finally get back to it yesterday. Funny how I now love superwash merino wool sweaters, after my strong dislike of them for so many years. I love the way the textile curls up like a t-shirt when it is cut in strips.

I love the dark muted colours in this rug, the earthy browns and greens.

handwoven superwash wool rag rug

Customer Appreciation Photo!!

2009-10-15T11:06:00.003-04:00

I love receiving photos from customers of my rugs in their new homes! Thank you to Emily and Jason for this gorgeous photo. The rug looks very much at home in it's new home!

felted wool sweater rug

in it's new home!

Silver Orb and Cobalt Copper

2009-10-14T11:53:00.004-04:00

Two simple necklaces just added to my Etsy shop!

silver orb

cobalt copper

Thanksgiving Snow

2009-10-14T08:53:00.003-04:00

My raven friends were hungry on Sunday after our little snow fall. Raven etiquette, the male always eats first, and the female gets what ever is leftover. If he eats everything, which he usually does I will sneak out and give her a little more of our dogs kibble. Just feeding the birds...

jo & flo

Love Heart

2009-10-13T16:07:00.005-04:00

Mark spent the afternoon digging

potatoes in the garden.

He came to the door with his hand

behind his back

and told me to hold out my hand.

I know it is a potato

but it did have some "aw" factor to it.

A potato heart!

Chocolate Topaz and Black Ice

2009-10-13T14:15:00.003-04:00

New in my Etsy shop, two new bracelets!

chocolate topaz

black ice

Seven Days on the Island

2009-10-11T08:41:00.013-04:00

We traveled a week ago to Manitoulin Island to Mark's families summer cottage, for our much delayed summer vacation, in October. It was nice to be there with my mom and Marks mom, together. Here is a brief photo journal of our week away!

sunrise over strawberry channel

the start of a twig chair

jay

ruth

jordie & carl

strawberry channel

mark & megan

my megan

megan, jordie and carl traveled to the island for the weekend,

long journey

mcleans mountain

i love mcleans mountain,

it's a favourite spot to visit

mcleans mountain lookout

view from the mountain

view from the mountain, you can see mark's uncles farm down below

megan & her holga

jordie, carl & mark

low island

old ruins

old mill

megan

low island

dock at camp looking out at strawberry island

strawberry channel

camp

mark thinking he could swim in october

garden at the farm

old well cover, 1946, initialed by marks dad and uncle

wood to keep jay warm for the winter

maple on the farm

honora

the three bears house, sugar shack

kinoje was obsessed with coming into camp, he didn't make it in

but he watched us constantly

dog walk on goat island, coal dock side

little current

cows in the field

queens of the castle

rumour is they are mean girls..

another sunrise at camp

looking out at the coal dock

downtown looking at the swing bridge

dock, downtown little current

mark cut down at dead tree at camp

firewood

camp saw was too small for the job but it got done

gorgeous leaves on our way home

maple leaves...

Emmsgems Comes to Town...

2009-09-30T15:30:00.004-04:00

I take part in a Canadian buy n sell thread on Etsy. It is a wonderful meeting place for artisans from not only across our own country but from various other countries around the world. The artisans on this thread have become family, we are all there to support each other not only in our work, but in our lives.

It was here on the thread that I met Emily of Emmsgems. Emily and her husband Jason came from Winnipeg, to stay with us this past weekend. I will admit, I was a little apprehensive meeting strangers. Strangers in real life, but not strangers really. We have chatted in the thread and by convo many many many times. I told her as we were planning their visit, that if I rented them a motel room, she would know we were not well matched, in personality. I was kidding, well kind of. She didn't have to worry, they are wonderful people, comfy, felt like we had know them both for ages. I hope they felt, feel the same way.

Emily realized Terrace Bay is not Winnipeg, she needed to dress warmer.

sight seeing.. Aguasabon Gorge at its finest!

Emily and the falls

Mark, Emily and Jason

not a warm beach day

Terrace Bay Main Beach

pumphouse beach

proof.. that they actually came!

look! Emily is helping me prepare dinner!

yum, stuffed shells!

emms and five

Simply Pearls

2009-09-29T22:06:00.004-04:00

I am very fond of pearls. They can be dressed up or down, they are simply beautiful!

Two new listings in my Etsy shop today. Love them both, one with oxidized sterling and the other with oxidized copper.

white frost

milky copper

Four Long Months... of Outside House Chores

2009-09-29T11:06:00.006-04:00

The summer in reverse.. back to front.

We almost didn't make it, the cold weather has arrived. We just finished putting the second coat of paint on the outside of this big old house. All we have left are the two doors, but hopefully we can sneak them in before the snow flies. The walls, paint covered cedar shakes were in terrible shape, they needed so much scraping, it took two months to do. A long two months of constant work.

Mark working on the last wall!

luckily a friend lent us scaffolding

the end of the big dig, walls waterproofed and all set for wet weather

blue seal coated foundation

Mark hard at it

scrubbing the old tar off the foundation

hand dug, ready to go

people could not figure out what Mark was doing

I told some that I am a princess and he was digging me a moat..

back patio taken apart for the big dig

digging

front entrance

chimney rebuild

chimney construction in the fog

Quick Trip

2009-09-29T10:27:00.003-04:00

Mark's Aunt Jean passed away two weeks ago, seven weeks after his dad passed away. She fought a long hard battle with lung cancer, but after her brother passed away she gave up her fight. We made a quick trip to the Island for her funeral.

These are the images from that trip.

a hint of colour, indicating the change of season

it has been a hard year. a huge loss of family and friends.

life keeps changing.