All I want for Christmas is a Fern Glade beret

 

21 DECEMBER 2009

This is the Christmas present I made for my daughter. It's a slouchy hat from the pattern Fern Glade. You can find it at knitty.com, my favorite site for alternative knitwear patterns.

I've used this pattern twice before and absolutely love it. I'm looking forward to making another one for my mom.

My yarn of choice is the bamboo-blend, "Spa", from Naturally Caron. The color of this hat is 'naturally 0007'.  I've used 'ocean spray' for this pattern but I also have 'rose bisque' and 'soft sunshine' in my stash, patiently awaiting their turns.

The only adjustment I advise for Fern Glade is to take out the K1 stitch on Row 14. (Now that I look at it again, the editors have struck that stitch out and all is right with the world of Fern Glade.)

If you decide to knit this one up, you might want to use a stretchier yarn than I did. Knitting the headband too tightly or loosely can backfire if your yarn can't compensate and bounce back.

Lastly, I don't use circular needles. Just can't get a good rhythm going with those things. So I use dp needles. No matter which you choose, you'll need U.S. sizes 3 and 6.


I hope you enjoy creating Fern Glade as much as I have. You can find the author of the pattern, Megan Marshall, on ravelry.com or at her blog, I saw her STRANDing there.

Happy Knitting! ~ j

Breakfast for Dinner!

Here you have keto biscuits and poached eggs topped with blender hollandaise.  All three things are delicious and extremely easy to make.  The keto biscuits are from Suzanne Ryan's book, "Simply Keto", and they're called 60-second Mug Biscuits.  You can find out more at her website.  The poached eggs are courtesy of Julia Child, and the hollandaise is from Tori Avey.   

One of the ways I use my Recipe Keeper daily is by storing my breakfast recipes in it.  Especially recipes with video instructions.  For example, I love Julia Child's method of making poached eggs.  They come out perfectly every time.  And, really, what's more Keto or Paleo than a hot, runny, yolk first thing in the morning?

I can store the information from not only a website recipe but from a video, as well.  It helps.  I like watching the original chef putting the dish together, preferably while they're explaining and troubleshooting. 

Watch the video yourself, then get the recipe, with clearly written instructions, here.  You can print it out.

Try it now!

Mmm!  Dinner! 

Note:  Keto English muffins are featured in another post on this blog.

Keto/Paleo English Muffins - Assorted

There are SO MANY recipes for keto/paleo English muffins that I couldn't pick just one to highlight, so here's a list for you to conduct your own baking experiments.  Try a new recipe every day until you find "The One"!

Delicious Low Carb Pizza

 ... finally!

Mmm!  Dinner!
Photo credit:  Julie Negron

This one's in my Recipe Keeper and I use it often.

• Course - Main Dish
• Category - Chicken, Keto, Pizza

KetoConnect.net blew everyone's minds with this chicken/egg/parm pizza crust.  Not only is it quick and easy, but it's also very delicious!  Boasting a hefty 17g fat and only 1 net carb for the crust, it's the newest rage in the Keto world.

Go to their website for the recipe and how-to video for this amazingly simple creation.  The recipe is printable, too!

Basic chicken, above-average flavors

 

Crispy chicken thighs and steamed broccoli with butternut squash and sage from Evol.

Photo credit:  Julie Negron

Dinner doesn't have to be fancy or take hours to make or even to plan.  For tonight's dinner, I grabbed a pack of chicken thighs on the way home from work and turned on the oven when I walked in so it would be ready when I was.

Everything else, I found in the fridge.  Sort of like a mystery basket on Chopped where the "Cheftestants" make something incredible out of random ingredients.  While the photo above shows what is obviously a simple plate of food,  I can testify that the flavors of the dish were incredibly tasty and received 5 out of 5 Mmms from my family.

The cooking techniques used to ensure maximum flavors from such a basic dish were learned from one of my all-time favorite teachers:  Michael Symon.

Mango + Orange + Jicama = Best Fruit Salad EVER!

Photo Credit:  Julie Negron

Doesn't that look delicious?!  That's because it IS!  I saw this on America's Test Kitchen (Season 16, Episode 21 - Dinner in Cuba) and it's now my favorite fruit salad of all time.

I recommend watching the video so you can see how to cut the fruits properly.  

This recipe is definitely NOT Keto-friendly but it may be Paleo-friendly.  Again, check your guidelines.  

Whole30 looks okay with this one, minus the sugar.  Try it, it might be really great without the added sweetness.

Duke's Chicken Salad

                      

Photo Credit:  Dukesmayo.com

A recurring favorite from my Recipe Keeper is Duke's Chicken Salad.

This salad is tangy, sweet, crunchy, and filling.  It has a whopping 63 grams of fat per serving!  The downfall is that it delivers 14 net carbs, all from sugar.  If you can replace the honey with a sugar substitute, you might have a Keto-friendly dish here.  Also, don't add the grapes.

This is also Paleo-friendly if you make homemade mayo.  There's a super simple, tasty recipe here.

Homemade mayo is the way to go if you want to comply with Whole 30 guidelines.  Again, check your guidelines to ensure you're staying on the plan.  You're putting in a lot of work to fall off the wagon over a salad.  A damn good salad, to be sure, but not worth throwing away all the progress you've made.

Go to Duke's website for this recipe.  Also check out their links for other tasty, simple eats such as their Chicken Curry Salad.

This salad gets 5 of 5 Mmms! from everyone I've ever made it for.

Happy eating and

Mmm!  Dinner!

One Night on Mt. Fuji

 28 AUGUST 2008

I was walking on Mt. Fuji one day...



Okay, wait a minute.  Change that first sentence to "climbing miles of rock, straight up, in the rain, in the freezing cold, in the dark" - and then add that all of this was just to see the sunrise from the summit of Mt. Fuji.

My husband has been planning this trip for months and I was never really fully "on board".  Climbing Mt. Fuji, after all, is a tad outside my comfort zone and just doesn't sound like that much fun.

Nevertheless, I went, I climbed, I froze, I endured, and I survived - rather sore and barely able to walk, talk, or think straight for the first couple of days - but I did it.  

We both did it.

So now we look at these pictures and groan together. (It's a strange way to bond, I know.)


Before the ordeal...around 12:30 pm on Monday, August 25, 2008. We went to the Sengen Shrine - the gateway to the mountain itself - to start getting good vibes.

It begins. 5:08 pm, 25 August

Two Hours Later: wet, cold, tired.  Taking a brief break at one of the
many mountain huts on Fuji-san. 7:32 pm

How dark was it? The photo below was taken at about 4:24 a.m.  Those bright dots are headlamps.  That's about all you could see.  Earlier, when we were rock climbing, all we could see were the rocks right in front of our faces.  The sky was so overcast and wet that no moonlight shone through at all.  At around 11 p.m., we found room to lay down at one of the huts and slept for about three and a half hours.  Just enough to get us to the top in time for sunrise.

The Sun.  Almost at the top of Fuji, the sun begins to wake up. 4:43 am

We made it! Just as the sun pops over the horizon, we're standing in front of the final station's Torii gate. 5:21 am

Rainbow at the End. We were so tired and just relieved that it was over. We walked around the compound on top of the mountain in sort of a daze but my husband was lucky enough to get this shot... 5:31 a.m.

That's about it for now. It's three days later and we're still tired, sore, and recovering. Take it from me - it's a hard hike. Seriously.

~ j

Posted by jennyspouse.comat 7:29 PM 

3 comments:

Bec said...

We did Fuji last year and I was terrified! I know exactly what you mean about looking at the pictures and groaning...I keep thinking "one day I'll look back on this fondly" but it hasn't happened yet. I'm not sure it ever will. We did it in the daylight... I can't imagine climbing up that thing in the dark!

August 30, 2008, at 5:14 PM

jennyspouse.com said...

Thank you! I was terrified out of my mind! I was shaking and breathing like I was getting ready to have a heart attack. One of our friends said "Yoga breaths" but I couldn't even do that. I hated every second of it. It was dark, wet, slippery, scary, and hard.

I don't know if I'll ever look back on it as a good experience. My husband didn't like it too much, either. He said, "Don't worry, honey, we're never going to do anything like that again!" :-)

That's why I love him. haha

My brother is a climber determined to climb the highest peak on each of the seven continents. He's been doing this stuff for years. Fuji was my first and last.

Sorry, but I'll just wait for him on the beach! haha

August 30, 2008, at 10:53 PM

Living in oblivion said...

Too funny! Thanks for sharing your story! I climbed it for my 40th birthday this last summer and was soo confused by the stations that when i was at the top getting my markings burned into my stick i asked how many more stations there were!! I had NO idea i was at the top!! I just figured all the stuff for sale and stuff was because this is where most people stop climbing! LOL!

January 29, 2009, at 6:02 AM

 

RECON: Comic Relief

 

17 OCTOBER 2021

Here's the new link for the RECON: Comic Relief program I did in 2009. My segment starts at 7:25 but don't be afraid to watch the other cartoonists (after you watch mine, of course). Cheers! ~ j

Originally posted on January 6, 2012.

Hats Off to Volunteers! April 18 - 24 Ft. Bliss, TX

  

17 OCTOBER 2021

Hats Off to Volunteers! April 18 - 24 Ft. Bliss, TX

I've just returned from my trip to Ft. Bliss, El Paso, TX, where I spoke at a luncheon for the post's volunteers. The program is headed by Army Volunteer Corps (AVC) Coordinator, Tephanie Hopper, and her staff from the AVC office located in the ACS Bldg. 2494, for those of you who want to join the legion of incredibly motivated volunteers at Ft. Bliss.

The event I attended was called "WHATTAWEDNDESDAY" on April 21st. This was the second in a series of events planned for the volunteers throughout National Volunteer Week (April 18 - 24). The first get-together of the week was "Manic Monday" and featured a salsa class to help get everyone into the feel-good spirit of the week.

"WHATTAWEDNESDAY" took place in the Centennial Banquet & Conference Center and featured free massages, Reiki, makeovers, food and prizes. A local beauty school was in attendance to give free haircuts and manicures. They even did eyebrows and makeup!

The final event of the week was held Friday night at the Centennial. This was the official Fort Bliss Annual Volunteer Recognition Awards Ceremony. Awards presented by: Maj. Gen. Howard Bromberg. Their guest speaker was Brian McNamara of Lifetime Television's Army Wives.

Here is the information Tephanie sent me:

"Each year our nation celebrates volunteers during National Volunteer Week. The Fort Bliss community follows this great tradition established by President Richard Nixon in 1974. We have numerous activities to show appreciation for the volunteers who selflessly support our Soldiers, Family Members, and Retirees. The largest event is our recognition dinner hosted by our Commanding General. The recognition dinner is scheduled to be held April 23rd from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Our theme is "Hats Off to Volunteers".

The following are some accomplishments of our installation volunteer

program:

2350 volunteers

155,000 hours

3 million dollars worth of hours contributed to the installation.

Volunteer Positions include:

Supporting our youth through coaching sports.

Teaching our family members through Army Family Team Building.

Meeting Soldiers/ Families as they deploy or return from deployment.

Family Readiness Group support

Supporting our Junior Enlisted Family Readiness Group

Soldiers mentoring kids through Partners In Education

Support advocacy walks

Tax Preparation

and MANY MORE!"

How could I say No to an invitation like that? I had a great time, got to meet some no-nonsense Army spouses, and came away with a feeling that this is a group of strong women I could definitely be a part of. I would go back to Ft. Bliss in a heartbeat.

I hope some of them will be in D.C. for Spouse Appreciation weekend, May 7 - 9, 2010. I sincerely hope to see you there or back in Fort Bliss.

You ladies ROCK!

~ j

Originally published April 24, 2010

Space-A Travel & Me

[Note:  Originally posted April 10, 2008.  Reposted on April 16, 2022.  A lot of people have found it useful over the years, so I decided to include it here. I'll try to add some updates when I get the chance.

Disclaimer: These are my own tips culled from my own experiences which may not be right for everyone.  I can't answer all of the legalities involved in Space-Available travel (also called "Space-A" or "stand-by") right now, but I'm planning on doing a show with Wendy and Marie of navywiferadio.com where we'll discuss everything in much further detail and depth.

If you're interested in joining the world of Space-A travelers, please check with your local AMC terminal for complete rules and regulations regarding your personal situation and traveler status. Meanwhile, let's get into it.

jewls' rules for Space-A Travel

Saying So Long to the Big Dead Tree

The Big Dead Tree

When we moved into base housing (July '09), we became surrogate owners of a big dead tree in our front yard.  It was somewhat embarrassing because all of the neighbors could see it.  

 After all, it was big. Bigger than our house. 

The neighbors, well-meaning souls all, would stop and render their opinions, "Your tree is dead", and their advice, "Hang some plants from it, dress it up a little". 

We always thanked them but there wasn't much we could do about it. 

The ultimate decision was made by others, of course, and so it was that, one Monday morning, a truck equipped with a cherry-picker pulled up in front of the house and released two men determined to bring down The Big Dead Tree. 

I felt sad. The Big Dead Tree hadn't been bothering anyone.  Anyone at all.  

Except, of course, my husband who kept having to drag the branches off the roof and out of the lawn to the field across the street. The Big Dead Tree dropped branches day in and day out. Some of the bigger ones crashed to the ground with a vibration that made the house shudder but most of the smaller ones fell unnoticed and simply lay quietly in the yard. Not bothering anyone at all. 

The two men rode that cherry-picker basket up and down all day long, the incessant noise from their chainsaws threatening to explode the inside of my brain, until The Big Dead Tree was stripped bare.

Limbs and branches had been falling falling falling, booming against the ground in angry, noisy protest. Our house shook and trembled in response throughout the operation. When the sun set, the men left and The Big Dead Tree stood cold in the yard as if finally accepting its fate.  It was now a tall, bare, stump.

The next day, more men came and took their chainsaws to its body. The tall, bare, stump was cut into sections that boomed to the ground. 

 

The windows shook when they hit. 

Soon, all that was left of The Big Dead Tree was a pile of logs lying in a mound of sawdust. It was the last time our yard would be littered by the old nuisance. 

The men cleaned up the yard and took all signs of their activities with away with them. 

They left the yard clean as a whistle... 

...no more Big Dead Tree. No tree at all, in fact. Now that's sad. 

 ****** ~ j

3 Comments

 1 – 3 of 3

 Caryl said...

Now get permission to plant a new one !!!  Then it's "Your legacy tree! We have one at every post we've been at, and it's fun to see how they've grown :)

January 6, 2010 at 8:21 AM

 Anonymous said...

It looks so naked now!  That is sad :-(
Susanna

January 6, 2010 at 7:05 PM

 jennyspouse.com said...

I'll try to plant a new tree this Fall.  Sounds like a good idea.

January 8, 2010 at 8:48 AM

 

Backwards...and in High Heels - The Life of a Military Wife

The military wife exists in a world where she is called a dependent. She is expected to do as her husband is told and to never question, complain, or allow a weary sigh to escape her lips. At the same time, she is also expected to be independent of her husband, not need his companionship or partnership for many days, weeks, months at a time, and be able to efficiently navigate the military bureaucracy's maze of paperwork on her own. All of this without boot camp or formal training of any kind.

Not everyone can successfully carry the weight inherent with the job of the military wife but those who do are impressive to behold.

Today I saw one of these women - a young spouse - pushing a luggage cart into the lobby of the Kanto Lodge. Stacked on the cart were two full-sized suitcases and, perfectly perched atop those, an infant's car seat. On the girl's hip, in the crook of her left arm, was the baby - probably all of six months old.

The young mother's curly blond hair was neatly ponytailed and out of the way. She was dressed comfortably in t-shirt, cargo pants, and sturdy Timberlands. A small backpack hung loosely off one shoulder. She smoothly guided the luggage cart and cargo into the hotel's commons area and stopped.

In an effortless series of moves, her right hand came off the cart, shifted the baby to a more stable position on her hip, reached backward to slide into the last strap of the backpack, and once more took control of the cart. All the while, her eyes never once left the flight schedules displayed on the plasma screen mounted near the front desk. She was taking a trip somewhere, traveling "Space-A", baby on hip, and looking absolutely fearless. There was nothing about her that would indicate she might be "dependent" in any way.

As I admired her calm, it occurred to me that she and her baby were perhaps minutes away from climbing into the jump seat of a C-17, or a KC-135, flying away from Japan, over the Pacific Ocean, to one of the places listed on that screen - Singapore, Hickam, Travis - yet she was as cool as if she were simply traveling from her living room to her kitchen.

I couldn't help but think of Ginger Rogers, of whom it is said did everything Fred Astaire did, only backward...and in high heels.*  And I realized how perfectly that old saying describes the military wife.

I didn't say anything to the girl. I left her to finish planning her trip, vacation, or PCS, by herself.  She was "dancing" like a pro and the last thing I wanted to do was break her concentration.

~ jewls


* Quote attributed to Bob Thaves' 1982 "Frank & Ernest" comic strip. The link is here: backward...and in high heels

Posted by jennyspouse.com at 6:17 AM 

Labels: Backwards and in High Heels, Bob Thaves, comic strip, Frank and Ernest, Ginger Rogers, Hickam AFB, Japan, Kanto Lodge, life as a military wife, military spouse, Space-A travel, Travis AFB

8 comments:

CraftyLzrd said...

My fellow military spouses never cease to amaze me! :)

April 7, 2008, at 10:45 AM

 

Anonymous said...

Military Wives Rule!!!! hehe =) I love the "backward and in high heels" and I COMPLETELY agree with that!

April 7, 2008, at 10:34 PM

 

Anonymous said...

A beautiful blog post! Military spouses are definitely "high functioning" individuals and, in my experience, the last ones to recognize how efficient and strong they are.

April 8, 2008 at 8:58 AM

 

UncleSamWife said...

I held my tongue until the Navy told us for the 7th time (not even kidding!) that our BAH would be in the next paycheck...they were wrong, and they were up to 3grand in owing us...And I swore that my husband better get out of my way, because someone would be cleaning the flight deck with a toothbrush very soon :)

Hell hath no fury than screwing with a new military spouses' dependency on BAH.

April 8, 2008, at 5:21 PM

 

Anonymous said...

i love this!!! absolutely love it! thank you so much for everything that you do, your article is my weekly breath of fresh air!! -- Anna Clark, navy wife

April 11, 2008, at 9:42 AM

 

Anonymous said...

Julie, As is often true, we are in the same mind, but you are a month ahead of me!
I'm about to use the "high heels" quote in a column, googled it to check out the attribution, and came up with your blog!
This is a wonderful description ... a great post.
See ya in the funny pages, Stripes Sister!
Love,
Terri

May 6, 2008, at 6:47 AM

 

Nicole said...

I just PCSed with 2-year-old twins and a 3-year-old. While my husband was sitting at the base in Germany doing the post-deployment paperwork. We flew on for over 24 hours and changed planes three times. By the time we got here, we were exhausted.

Military wives are a different breed.

October 28, 2009, at 11:54 AM

 

Lovell said...

I am so happy I read this....just want I needed to keep myself going

October 20, 2010, at 2:42 PM