Busy Writing, No Time to Cook

I came up with this one day when I was short on just about everything (butter, flour, sugar), but husband had a couple of these granola bars in his golf bag.

Creative Double Secret NonFiction Fruit Crisp
by Anna Murray

Slice two apples or pears into a shallow pan. Take the granola bars (Nature Valley, Crunchy Oats and Honey) and soak in 1/4 cup hot water for a minute, then mash with a spoon. Throw in a handful of raisins, a pinch of vanilla, and spread over the fruit.

Bake in 350 oven for 20-30 minutes to desired crispness.

Serve with ice cream or frozen yogurt on the side.

Two servings, 150 calories each.

Paul Bunyan Double Crust Apple Pie

It's apple season, and no, I'm not talking about the iPhone 6.

My masterpiece (shown below) is a bipartisan pie recipe available online. Apparently both sides of the aisle agree that Frannie Franken makes the best pie.

Mitt Mania, the sequel to the sequel

I promise this will end soon. I'm stockpiling gifts for the women in my life, and somehow they are reproducing faster than coat hangers on viagra.

These are BonBons (free pattern here). I made them from micro spun in a colour called "French Vanilla".

For the person who has everything . . .

I was hoofing along the Stillwater ladies night when I saw this gem in the Art 'n Soul store window. I'm thinking this has "stocking stuffer" written all over it. What do you think?

Thoughts on Scottish Independence

I met a good number of young Brits while I was travelling alone through Australia this past spring. My contact with young people was constant and intense, as I stayed in youth hostels. When you travel alone, and the choice is $250 a night for a Hilton-type room in the centre or $40 a night for the upscale youth hostel in the same location, well, it's a no-brainer. A bed and shower were all I needed. Besides, there is a security in having people around, and young people bring energy and spontaneity to the party.

My first night in Sydney I had to take a "mixed" room (men and women, six beds). I landed with two young men from the English countryside. They were 23 years old, and had purchased the work visa. We had a lively discussion during which they referred to themselves as "POHMES" (Prisoners of Her Majesty's Empire), and yes, they were impressed that this yank immediately knew the acronym from reading "The Fatal Shore" by Robert Hughes.

Anyway, there was an anger and bitterness about these men, and I met more like them as I travelled, seemingly under the impression that, unlike back home, jobs were plentiful in Australia. In Melbourne I stayed with a young British woman who called her parents and cried on the phone. She had made her contacts with shirttail relations, but it appeared that none could help her with finding employment. My heart broke a little for her. It takes courage and desperation to travel half way around the world without a job in hand, in the hope of making a better life, but that's what these young people were doing.

Unfortunately, jobs are a mixed bag in Australia, and not easy for foreigners to obtain. There is "under the table" work, and plenty of free foreigner labor (Woofers), and these youth hostels were full of 20-some backpackers seeking employment. Without a serious in-demand skill it is difficult to obtain a post, yet those that could land something benefitted from Australia's higher minimum wage.

So yeah, I get why young Brits are frustrated. It will be interesting to see how this independence vote breaks out along age demographics.

Aussie dog is rocking his sweaters

The package arrived; these pics are fresh from Australia.

Where I'm Meant to Be

This beauty unfolds daily, just a few steps away from my home. Husband took this video when we were walking back from post-dinner coffee.

Mitt Marathon

Another day, another pair of fingerless mitts. These are made of micro spun, using the Fetching pattern.

I didn't like the picot bind off, so I bound off in pattern.