I am a giant pancake fan, and have long maintained that ones made with Snoqualmie Falls Pancake and Waffle Mix trump any homemade version (I've attempted). This ended a few weeks ago, when I discovered kris's Fluffy Pancakes. As the name implies, these are super-fluffy and outrageously delicious. With some slight changes, these just may be the best pancakes I've ever eaten. Adding giant yummy blueberries is key. Recipe (with couple of changes) as follows:


3/4 c. milk
2 T. white vinegar
1 c. AP flour
1 T. white sugar
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 egg
1 1/2 t. vanilla
2 T. butter or margarine
fresh blueberries

combine milk and vinegar in small bowl. let sit & sour while combining dry ingredients.
in medium mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
melt butter or margarine in small bowl, then mix into soured milk.
beat the egg in same small bowl & add to milk mixture.
combine wet & dry ingredients until evenly moistened, leaving lots of lumps!

let batter sit for 10-15 minutes before doing anything! (make coffee & fry up some bacon!)
use 1/4 c. batter for each pancake, plopping on 8-10 large blueberries just after going onto the griddle. flip when bubbles have formed and golden-brown.



enjoy with maple syrup, or even better - heat syrup in a saucepan, add blueberries and cook until they burst for pretty purple syrup!

do yourself a favor and top it all with sliced almonds.

/lost art.

In anticipation of Lost's final season premiere, I give you The LOST Underground Art Show, a fantastic collection of (you guessed it) Lost-inspired art. Curators of the L.A. Gallery 1988 rounded up a bevy fantastic artists to bring their best likenesses of Jack, Hurley and most popularly Locke. There is, naturally, a recurring octagonal theme. My favorites were a set of ink drawings by Ken Garduno (seen at top) and the two super-cute paintings below by Lauren Gregg. Hurley noshing on a jar of Dharma ranch. Charlie (RIP) serenading an adorable fuzzy polar bear. It simply doesn't any better than that.

Although the show ended December 24th, I was never in L.A. anyhow and the internet is just as good a vessel for these pieces. There are dozens more at The LOST Underground Art Show blog!

Lauren Gregg "Hurley" acrylic on wood 10.75 x 13.75 inches

Lauren Gregg "Charlie" acrylic on wood 24 x 18 inches

/relentless periwinkle yarn

What seems like ages ago (2001?), I purchased multiple skeins of Caron Wintuk yarn in 'deep periwinkle'. 100% acyrlic, 100% terrifying. While the exact number of skeins purchased remains a mystery, I am sure that it was at least three too many.

I began work on a self-designed sweater (not a fantastic idea for a 2nd crochet project), which remains far from complete about 8 years later.

Last month I decided to pick up the hook for the first time since, this time teaching myself a wider variety of stitches. I used one skein of the Deep Periwinkle Wonder practicing different stitches, getting back into the swing of the craft.

While grateful I didn't need to buy practice project yarn, Deep Periwinkle Wonder refuses to disappear, and now strains my eyes much like a strobe-neon yellow.

Here's how I've used it so far (with plenty still in the yarn basket):

-patterns are linked below each photo-

project one: fun earflap hat

ez crochet helmet pattern

project two: flowered headband
crochet headband

project three: adorable elephant friend who keeps watch over my bookshelf
elephant

/thanks for cuddly animals

Nigel, one of the many people/animals/things I am thankful for today.

/commitment & commercials

I should begin by saying that I created this blog months ago, only to leave it empty and sad, likely sulking in its pathetic unused state. Initially, I came here with the intention to post things I find inspiring, things I've created; the standard blog schtick. For some reason, I've been ruling out recent finds not meeting my non-existent standard, resulting in a non-existent blog.

I now vow to post. In general.


Now that you must know, this commercial is what sparked my general urge to post:




Walt Whitman & Levi's; almost brings me to tears.


This now rivals gap's 'everybody in cords' from 1999 (starring Alex Greenwald, Rashida Jones, & a substitute teacher I once had for a week in 8th grade... I will admit I was a little star struck) for my #1 favorite commercial ever.




Consumerism/materialism/greedy intentions aside, I will admit that I'm a sucker for a good old fashioned commercial; carefully crafted to pull at your heartstrings & fondle your creative arts-loving bone (ew?).