sketchbook catchup
This is what a slow news day looks like in the sketchbook.
A story from Bug. A few days before we had filled out one of those ad-lib story things except I let her know the context of the story as we filled in the words. Now that story is forever stuck in her head and she wanted me to sketch it here. I wanted to embellish it a bit and take it the story line out of the cliché but Bug would have none of it. So cliché it is. And those angry cats…they are supposed to be tired. I need to work on my tired faces.
Angella day! Also I made gravy, which is quite a big deal. You should celebrate.
Some more sketching at the park. I’m still required at the swings for pushing duty but every once in a while I get to steal myself away for a nice sit on a bench. I love just sitting around at the park instead of climbing around on the equipment rescuing certain height-challenged people. Then the next day it was breakfast with the kids I babysit and some more time with Angella and Bethany and Jen in Oceanside. Oceanside is trippy. It’s not my favorite beach but it is a nice halfway point between here and San Diego and the food at Hillstreet Cafe is YUM-diddy-yum-yum! (Bug’s word.)
Yesterday we killed some time at the mall and didn’t buy a single thing besides lunch and some gelato!
Now you’re all caught up. The excitement! How can you stand it!! Just kidding. Blargh.
27 Comments
a chris
Eat it!! Hahahaha.
Wow, that was a big update! I love the bras with the eyes on them.
Keep it up! You know you’re going to love the notebooks in years to come.
Angella
I’m loving all your angry faces because I NEVER have seen you angry in person.
Thanks for hosting me, friend. I miss you guys already.
Tamara
According to the packages (I’m not capable enough for scratch baking) you can substitute water for most of the oil- use only a few tablespoons of oil- but I’ve had flat sticky baking as a result, so I can’t vouch that it works (it’s probably actually me, or the pans to blame)
bethany actually
Try 1/2 cup applesauce + 1/4 cup oil. Or better yet, 1/2 cup applesauce + 1/4 cup melted butter! Much yummier, and no more calories.
bethany actually
Also, I don’t think the applesauce would affect how high the muffins rise, because the oil doesn’t really affect that. Make sure you aren’t over-mixing the muffins–just barely mix the wet into the dry till it’s mixed and then stop. Doesn’t matter if it’s lumpy! If you overmix your muffins will be flat and tough instead of light and tender.
Becky
Hi Brenda, your sketchbooks remind me of the Brenda Power news thing that you used to do way back when. :-) I love your illustrations/drawings. So cute and creative!
Elda @ Peace-inthe-Storm
Oceanside.. ah yes. My oldest was “LEGALLY” born there. Technically I gave birth in the Naval Hospital inside Camp Pendleton, but whatever. Oceanside has a TON of barber shops. My husband (a Marine at the time) would always frequent THE SAME ONE. We’d have to wait FOREVER in line because the place was awesome. Would shave his neck and everything with foam (soap? sudsy stuff?) and the old school razors/knives. That’s pretty much the only thing I remember about that place. That and ANGELO’S! OMG You have got to try their burgers. TO DIE FOR.
If you can, you should go to the beach inside the base. Much less crowded and they even have little “cabins” that you can rent right there on the beach. Good times… good times.
Kuky
I sit and read every little thing on your drawings. :) And we often feel like pack mules. What a concept, a bigger bag. Will have to remember that one. :)
Kuky
And what’s up with all my happy faces today? I don’t know. Just in a happy face mood. :)
nicole
ok, i love the sketches, i love seaglass, lattes, yoga pants and many other things you love…funny.
Amanda
I love seeing your sketches! Sometimes I wish I could draw, but then again it would probably be another hobby I can’t seem to find time for.
I would second what Bethany said about the muffins, oil or applesauce shouldn’t affect your fluffiness. I’m with you though, 3/4 cup of oil is a lot. The last time I made muffins that called for that much I substituted 3 Tablespoons of milled flax seed, 1/2 cup applesauce and reduced the oil to 3 Tablespoons. Just mix the flax seed in with the dry ingredients before you add your wet ingredients.
Maddie
“They always compliment my penmanship which makes me happy inside”. Love it :-D
P.S My parents are visiting from Oz and Mum bought me the Strawberry tote I blogged about (post #206). Is it wrong to love it more than your firstborn? Ok just kidding. They’re on par ;-)
Erika
Try Cooking Light’s Classic Banana Bread:
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=549764
I use lowfat vanilla yogurt – makes it nice and moist. Yum!
BeachMama
Just make my Banana Bread recipe and slice it, its really yummy, really!
I love how you can fill your days with so much fun. I think if I wrote about my days they would just be soooo boring, we don’t do enough fun stuff. Must work on that.
Valerie
I collect sea glass, too. I don’t find much here in FL, but when we lived in NC there was a LOT! And shark’s teeth!
Kari
I love your day drawings! They are so fun to pour over! :-)
I was going to suggest half apple sauce half oil in the recipe, but it looks like someone beat me to it.
jaynette
My trick is Tofu. I’ve substituted all of the oil for softened tofu. Put it in the blender with the eggs and liquid. Think I will make some today, thanks for the reminder.
Clownfish
You do know if you put those pages together, you have the start of a book. A look into the lives of a Mom and her Bug :-) Ahhh sea glass, just where does it come from, tell me google. c ya B
Barb
Here’s a banana muffin, with semi-sweet chips recipe voted thumbs by all my kiddos – only 1/4 cup oil: http://quicklikeabunny.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/after-school-snack/
Becca @ Just a little R&R
I love Bug’s story! Little kid imaginations are the best.
I love the “Eat it!” bit on the gravy making day! Congrats on the successful gravy! I can make roast and turkey gravy perfectly, but have soooo much trouble with chicken gravy…
What about some kind of mosiac or stained glass like project for the sea glass?
Carol
Oh my word….I love, love, love reading blogs and yours is always one that makes me smile. Loved the drawings….you have amazing talent and clearly a great sense of humor. Happy Wednesday!
Dana
I love your drawing updates. Especially telling your husband to “Eat It”, that made me laugh!
Dana (bethanyactually’s sister in law)
CAROL S-U
I’m loving the illustrated posts – keep them coming!!
Rebecca (Bearca)
I love, LOVE your sketchbook posts. They are so unique and fun! (And they make me wish I knew how to draw.)
I was bummed I didn’t get to see you last Saturday night. Thought you might be there…
cagey (Kelli Oliver George)
Just popping in to say thank you for the Valentine’s Day Card download. I gave your Valentags last year, so I had checked your Etsy site to see if you had anything new. I did not see anything there , so I was excited to see the new set here (Hint: I would have PAID. Crazy woman. :-)
turkeylurker
I always use Fanny Farmer’s recipe for banana bread for banana muffins – no oil at all!
3 ripe bananas, 3/4 cups sugar, 2 eggs (well beaten), 2 cups flour, 1 tsp soda, 1 tsp salt, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, etc to taste. Mix the bananas and sugar first (I usually add the spices at this point), mix in the eggs. Then add the dry ingredients. Pour into buttered muffin pans 350 for 20 mins (roughly).
Enjoy!
Heather Cohen
totally off topic to your post… well, sort of. i read that you are near san diego (you went to oceanside for something, right?). sorry, its late and i’m just trying to get a few mommy-moments in, by myself on my laptop, before i join the rest of the sleeping brood. i live in san diego, too. which is neat, cuz a friend of mine told me about your blog when i mentioned how i want to shrink-a-dink all of my husband’s disposable coffee cup lids and make a chandelier. he buys a big box from costco, and its so wasteful. i don’t even think my using cloth diapers (on my baby, not me) balances it out. anyway, i think your blog is great, and it has been nudging and encouraging me to keep being crafty and maybe post to the blog i created last year.