Yearly Archives: 2007

Domestic Blitz

Frockin' in the free world

I cut out the pattern for the kids’ smock from “Bend-the-Rules Sewing” the other day before I discovered the missing bobbin case. So when my new bobbin case arrived today, I was able to hit the sewing machine right away.

I started out by sewing together the wrong parts to make the armholes. And thus, I became familiar with the seam ripper very quickly. I had to use it several other times, too, such as when I completely missed the body of the smock when I tried to stitch on the bias tape.

I had some difficulties with the machine itself, too. I think the tension is set wrong — at least, that was my mother-in-law’s long-distance diagnosis. I’m going to take it to her for an in-person check-up this weekend.

I still have a few rough bits to fix, and the stitching is a little wacky in places. Overall, though, I’m pretty happy with the little smock. The fabric isn’t what I would have chosen if I wasn’t exclusively shopping the clearance rack. (I’ll be doing that until I feel a bit more proficient.) But it’s going to work very well for its intended task — keeping P’s clothes clean at art time.

Eating, Family matters

It's a good thing I don't sleepwalk

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Last night I dreamed that my friend Stephanie had us over for a murder-mystery-themed Christmas dinner. I’m a little disappointed that I never made it to the murder-mystery segment of my dream, but I am pleased to be able to share a very special recipe with you. It was presented cooking-show-style in my dream, so you’ll have to make an educated guess on the amounts if you really want to try it.

Stephanie’s Dreamy Shrimp Casserole
water
sugar
fresh basil
a bunch of large shrimp, peeled and deveined
butter
garlic
more butter
panko bread crumbs

Place shrimp in a large bowl and set aside.

Combine water and sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves to make a simple syrup. Bruise basil leaves and stir into syrup. Bring just to a boil, then pour over shrimp. Marinate shrimp in syrup overnight.

Preheat oven. Butter a large casserole dish. Add some minced garlic. Drain shrimp and line them up in the casserole dish. Top with panko crumbs, more garlic and butter pats. Bake until golden brown and delicious.

As delicious as it looked in my dream, I don’t think I’ll be trying this one at home. I don’t think the syrup/garlic combination is for me, and I’m pretty sure all that cook time would result in some pretty tough shrimp.

Screen time

Michelangelo Antonioni, 1912-2007

It’s been a bad week for directors.

Michelangelo Antonioni, director of Blowup and Zabriskie Point, died yesterday in his home in Italy. Antonioni was probably best known to most audiences for his 1966 film Blowup, which won the Golden palm at Cannes that year. American audiences became more acquainted with him through Zabriskie Point, his meditation on late ’60s American culture and counter-culture. While the film was by most accounts a flop, it was embraced by a core of fans. If nothing else, the soundtrack to Zabriskie Point is fantastic, including some great early Pink Floyd (Careful with that axe, Eugene) and Grateful Dead. Not one of my favorite directors by a long shot but someone who definitely added to the film lexicon. RIP.