Potato Gnocchi with Kale

Last year I saw a picture of gnocchi in a magazine and memories of gluten-filled days flooded my mind.  Pasta, Betty Crocker cakes out of the box (my fave!), french bread, croutons, my mom's cookies, pizza dough and many other things came home to roost.  Granted I can now make several of these things on my own having adjusted well to gluten-free living, but the gnocchi is something I hadn't ventured to try so in came a special request to the Chef.

It took some experimentation with different flour blends, but cut to the present and this dish is now a regular of ours.  The kale on the side is an added bonus that makes it interesting and even more delicious.  We spared you the gluten-free version, but if anyone out there would like it please don't hesitate to send me an email or leave me a comment and I'll get the flour blend we use for this recipe right over to you.

Enjoy everyone! (p.s. - i'm swamped at work, but still reading your blogs even though i'm stretched too thin to comment properly.  hopefully it'll smooth out soon!)

Potato Gnocchi with Kale
Ingredients
Gnocchi
1       potato
1       egg yolk
1/8C flour
1t      salt

Kale
3C    kale sliced 1/4 inch
3T    olive oil
3cl.   garlic slice thin
2t     red chili flakes
2T    water
salt and pepper to taste
squeeze lemon

Parmesan shaved for garnish.

Method
Gnocchi

Preheat oven to 450.
Poke potato and microwave for 5 minutes, finishing it in the oven for about 15 minutes more.
While potato is hot remove skin and mash until smooth and warm to touch (vs. hot).

Add egg yolk and salt, mix until completely cooled and smooth.

Add flour and bring together forming a ball - if dough is still sticky add flour until it doesn't stick to your hand.

Knead on table for 30sec until combined.  Careful not to overwork or your dumplings will be tough. To know it's right press gently with finger, it should spring back half way.

Cut in thirds and roll into tubes.

Cut on angle about 1/2 inch each.

Here are the next steps with accompanying pictures.  You will be rolling each one into a ball and rolling out on a fork. So begin by holding one with your middle finger and thumb, press it into the fork making an indention with your index finger and finish by rolling over with thumb.

 At the end you'll have a nice pile of these.

Drop into boiling water. Once they float, remove after about 30 seconds and place into ice water.

Once chilled place on paper towel to dry.  They can be stored in the fridge for three days or frozen. To finish saute in olive oil until crispy - about 1min per side.

Kale
For the kale begin by slicing it on the width in half inch strips; place in a bowl and set aside.  Slice the garlic and set aside.

Next - add oil to your pan and heat it up on the stove top to warm the oil, but not too hot.   Add chili flakes and garlic, cooking for approximately 2minutes on low to medium heat.

Add kale cooking until it wilts, stir occasionally.  Add water cooking until it evaporates.  Pull the pan from the stove seasoning the kale with lemon and salt and pepper.

We cook the gnocchi first, so at this point we toss it back into the pan with the kale, return it to the stove top to slightly warm, and then plate.

Garnish with shaved Parmesan and ta-da!!

Let me assure you that this was the pretty plate for the picture.  At times we do have fun eating little piles of food like this because it's nice to do fancy stuff for yourself at home.  When we make this particular dish, however, it's usually a portion 2 or 3 times this size - or repeated visits for refills because it's soooo good.  Please let us know if you try it and how it works out. 

If you read Annie's blog or Iva's blog they've given some great information on kale recently.  It has so many health benefits and is one of my favorite leafy greens.  You should totally check out their blogs for the down low.
 

Before I forget - If you are interested in learning more about pricing/options on the Dutzi handbags and totes, please leave me a comment or email so I can get information to you.  I have special (very reasonable) pricing available for a limited time for readers of my blog, and am happy to answer any questions you might have.  Thanks in advance to everyone who has inquired - I will be emailing information tomorrow and throughout the weekend.

And with that, I'm out.  I hope you have a great, relaxing, fun weekend.  Summer's winding down so quickly we have to soak in every last minute!  Happy Weekend Everyone!

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Agar burung pleci rajin berbunyi

Salah satu hal yang menjengkelkan bagi pecinta burung adalah burung tidak mau bunyi. Mungkin beberapa tips ini bisa memberikan obat buat anda yang lagi bingung mencari jawaban permasalahan tersebut.

1. Pastikan burung anda dalam keadaan sehat. Hal itu dapat dilihat dari tingkah laku dan kotoran burung tersebut. Burung Pleci yang sehat berperilaku agak liar dan tidak malas. Sedangkan kotoran burung yang sehat yaitu tidak encer /mencret dan berwarna sesuai makanannya. Bila diberi makan pelet hijau maka kotoran harus hijau bukan putih.
2. Jemur burung 1/2-1 jam antara mulai jam 7-9 pagi setiap hari supaya burung tidak kutuan dan bisa bergerak lincah. Sediakan air yang cukup untuk mandi atau mandikan dulu baru dijemur.
3. Pastikan setiap hari burung memakan extra fooding berupa ulat atau kroto. Tapi saya sarankan kasih kroto ½ sdt pagi dan sedikit UH atau 1 UK yg putih saja untuk menghangatkan badan. Pemberian extra fooding yang berlebihan membuat burung sangat birahi dan bulunya menjadi kusam bahkan tak jarang ambrol.
4. Carikan pasangan yg baik untuk merangsang berkicau (saling memanggil bersahutan) tetapi jangan yang betul betul jadi karena secara mental burung kita pasti kalah dan justru akan jadi macet.
5. Tambahkan mineral/vitamin 1 minggu 1x-2x pada air minum dan ganti airnya setiap hari.

Detail Perbaikan Performa Dapat Diuraikan Secara Lebih Intens Seperti Ini :

Kebanggan Memiliki Pleci tidak terbatas atau berhenti saat kita bisa membelinya saja, namun rasa bangga ini harus disertai dengan kemauan untuk merawatnya dengan baik agar Pleci yang kita miliki mempunyai suara yang patut dibanggakan. Masa rawatan kurang dari 3 tahun masih memungkinkan bagi kita untuk bisa membenahinya (walaupun tidak semuanya bisa kita benahi). Lebih dari 3 tahun, maka kemungkinan memperbaiki kualitas suaranya akan relatif kecil.

Berikut langkah-langkah konkret yang dapat kita lakukan untuk memperbaiki kualitas suara Pleci

 1. Benahi terlebih dahulu kondisi fisiknya

Salah satu penyebab kurang baiknya suara Pleci adalah faktor buruknya kondisi fisik burung itu sendiri. Oleh karenanya,

perbaikan fisik ini menempati prioritas utama yang harus sesegera mungkin diperhatikan dan diupayakan. Perbaikan kondisi fisik ini dapat dilakukan melalui cara memberikan makanan alami/makanan hidup/EF sedikit lebih banyak dari biasanya. Makanan buatan/pelet/voer walaupun sudah baik, bilamana memungkinkan kita oplos lagi dengan madu, telur lalu dijemur sampai kering.Mandi sesering mungkin yang mempunyai tujuan untuk meredakan stress, memperbaiki penampilan (bulu) serta membuat kicaunnya lebih rajin dan lebih bening.

2. Pengembunan

Adalah menempatkan Pleci di luar rumah. Biasanya dilakukan menjelang fajar/matahari terbit. Namun bilamana masih kurang rajin, bisa dilakukan sejak sore hari dalam kondisi dikerodong hingga besok paginya menjelang fajar kerodongnya dibuka agar bisa melihat matahari terbit.
Hal ini juga dapat dilakukan pada Pleci anakan, bakalan, maupun yang telah rajin berkicau agar lebih rajin berkicau serta membuat suaranya lebih bening.

3. pertemukan dengan satu jenis kelamin atau juga bisa dengan lawan jenisnya/memasangkan kemudian pisahkan agar saling bersahutan.

bertujuan untuk merangsang Pleci agar lebih rajin berkicau hingga pada muaranya akan berkicau dengan lantang. Hal ini didasari bahwa di alam bebasnya, Pleci berkicau bersahut-sahutan.Bila mempertemukan dengan lawan jenisnya jelas sudah artiannya, yaitu mempertemukan jantan dengan betina dan sebaliknya. Namun bila memasangkan, bisa berarti mempertemukan jantan dengan jantan (tapi tidak bisa disatukan dalam 1 sangkar) dikarenakan mereka saling menjaga teritorialnya sehingga berupaya berkicau sebaik mungkin.

Ciri suara PLECI yang baik untuk dipasangkan

Karakter yang dimiliki PLECI berbeda 1 dengan yang lainnya. Ada juga PLECI yang rajin berkicau walau sendirian. Namun ini jarang kita jumpai karena pada dasarnya burung ini adalah burung koloni, tetapi ada juga yang suka berkicau bilamana terpancing dengan PLECI atau burung pendamping lainnya.
Ciri-ciri burung yang mudah dipasangkan adalah yang memiliki suara yang mudah memancing burung sejenisnya untuk berkicau. Suara yang dikicaukan cenderung lembut/tidak terlalu keras dan ada kesan ditahan-tahan. Akan tetapi bila ada Pleci lain yang menyambut suaranya, maka Pleci tersebut akan lebih mengeraskan suara dan kecepatannya.

4. dekatkan dengan sumber air

Pada habitat aslinya, PLECI selalu berada disekitaran tempat yang dekat dengan sumber air. Air selain menjadi pemenuh kebutuhan hidup Pleci juga berfungsi sebagai tempat mandi, mencari makanan dan berkumpul maupun bercengkrama pada saat musim kawin tiba. Pada saat kita pelihara/menjadi klangenan, disarnkan kita menempatkan sangkarnya dekat dengan sumber air maupun suara air yang mengalir.

5. dekatkan dengan burung-burung yang bersuara baik

burung-burung yang dimaksud adalah burung-burung yang memiliki kicauan yang secara irama hampir mirip dan menyerupai Pleci agar lebih rajin berkicau. Sebenarnya, Memacu Pleci untuk berkicau adalah dengan memelihara lebih dari 1 ekor, namun bilamana kurang memungkinkan, kita bisa memelihara beberapa burung yang nada suaranya hampir mirip pleci sebagai bandul untuk memancing minatnya berkicau, contoh : BT, mozambiq, kenari, pare-pare dll.

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Agar burung pleci rajin berbunyi

Salah satu hal yang menjengkelkan bagi pecinta burung adalah burung tidak mau bunyi. Mungkin beberapa tips ini bisa memberikan obat buat anda yang lagi bingung mencari jawaban permasalahan tersebut.

1. Pastikan burung anda dalam keadaan sehat. Hal itu dapat dilihat dari tingkah laku dan kotoran burung tersebut. Burung Pleci yang sehat berperilaku agak liar dan tidak malas. Sedangkan kotoran burung yang sehat yaitu tidak encer /mencret dan berwarna sesuai makanannya. Bila diberi makan pelet hijau maka kotoran harus hijau bukan putih.
2. Jemur burung 1/2-1 jam antara mulai jam 7-9 pagi setiap hari supaya burung tidak kutuan dan bisa bergerak lincah. Sediakan air yang cukup untuk mandi atau mandikan dulu baru dijemur.
3. Pastikan setiap hari burung memakan extra fooding berupa ulat atau kroto. Tapi saya sarankan kasih kroto ½ sdt pagi dan sedikit UH atau 1 UK yg putih saja untuk menghangatkan badan. Pemberian extra fooding yang berlebihan membuat burung sangat birahi dan bulunya menjadi kusam bahkan tak jarang ambrol.
4. Carikan pasangan yg baik untuk merangsang berkicau (saling memanggil bersahutan) tetapi jangan yang betul betul jadi karena secara mental burung kita pasti kalah dan justru akan jadi macet.
5. Tambahkan mineral/vitamin 1 minggu 1x-2x pada air minum dan ganti airnya setiap hari.

Detail Perbaikan Performa Dapat Diuraikan Secara Lebih Intens Seperti Ini :

Kebanggan Memiliki Pleci tidak terbatas atau berhenti saat kita bisa membelinya saja, namun rasa bangga ini harus disertai dengan kemauan untuk merawatnya dengan baik agar Pleci yang kita miliki mempunyai suara yang patut dibanggakan. Masa rawatan kurang dari 3 tahun masih memungkinkan bagi kita untuk bisa membenahinya (walaupun tidak semuanya bisa kita benahi). Lebih dari 3 tahun, maka kemungkinan memperbaiki kualitas suaranya akan relatif kecil.

Berikut langkah-langkah konkret yang dapat kita lakukan untuk memperbaiki kualitas suara Pleci

 1. Benahi terlebih dahulu kondisi fisiknya

Salah satu penyebab kurang baiknya suara Pleci adalah faktor buruknya kondisi fisik burung itu sendiri. Oleh karenanya,

perbaikan fisik ini menempati prioritas utama yang harus sesegera mungkin diperhatikan dan diupayakan. Perbaikan kondisi fisik ini dapat dilakukan melalui cara memberikan makanan alami/makanan hidup/EF sedikit lebih banyak dari biasanya. Makanan buatan/pelet/voer walaupun sudah baik, bilamana memungkinkan kita oplos lagi dengan madu, telur lalu dijemur sampai kering.Mandi sesering mungkin yang mempunyai tujuan untuk meredakan stress, memperbaiki penampilan (bulu) serta membuat kicaunnya lebih rajin dan lebih bening.

2. Pengembunan

Adalah menempatkan Pleci di luar rumah. Biasanya dilakukan menjelang fajar/matahari terbit. Namun bilamana masih kurang rajin, bisa dilakukan sejak sore hari dalam kondisi dikerodong hingga besok paginya menjelang fajar kerodongnya dibuka agar bisa melihat matahari terbit.
Hal ini juga dapat dilakukan pada Pleci anakan, bakalan, maupun yang telah rajin berkicau agar lebih rajin berkicau serta membuat suaranya lebih bening.

3. pertemukan dengan satu jenis kelamin atau juga bisa dengan lawan jenisnya/memasangkan kemudian pisahkan agar saling bersahutan.

bertujuan untuk merangsang Pleci agar lebih rajin berkicau hingga pada muaranya akan berkicau dengan lantang. Hal ini didasari bahwa di alam bebasnya, Pleci berkicau bersahut-sahutan.Bila mempertemukan dengan lawan jenisnya jelas sudah artiannya, yaitu mempertemukan jantan dengan betina dan sebaliknya. Namun bila memasangkan, bisa berarti mempertemukan jantan dengan jantan (tapi tidak bisa disatukan dalam 1 sangkar) dikarenakan mereka saling menjaga teritorialnya sehingga berupaya berkicau sebaik mungkin.

Ciri suara PLECI yang baik untuk dipasangkan

Karakter yang dimiliki PLECI berbeda 1 dengan yang lainnya. Ada juga PLECI yang rajin berkicau walau sendirian. Namun ini jarang kita jumpai karena pada dasarnya burung ini adalah burung koloni, tetapi ada juga yang suka berkicau bilamana terpancing dengan PLECI atau burung pendamping lainnya.
Ciri-ciri burung yang mudah dipasangkan adalah yang memiliki suara yang mudah memancing burung sejenisnya untuk berkicau. Suara yang dikicaukan cenderung lembut/tidak terlalu keras dan ada kesan ditahan-tahan. Akan tetapi bila ada Pleci lain yang menyambut suaranya, maka Pleci tersebut akan lebih mengeraskan suara dan kecepatannya.

4. dekatkan dengan sumber air

Pada habitat aslinya, PLECI selalu berada disekitaran tempat yang dekat dengan sumber air. Air selain menjadi pemenuh kebutuhan hidup Pleci juga berfungsi sebagai tempat mandi, mencari makanan dan berkumpul maupun bercengkrama pada saat musim kawin tiba. Pada saat kita pelihara/menjadi klangenan, disarnkan kita menempatkan sangkarnya dekat dengan sumber air maupun suara air yang mengalir.

5. dekatkan dengan burung-burung yang bersuara baik

burung-burung yang dimaksud adalah burung-burung yang memiliki kicauan yang secara irama hampir mirip dan menyerupai Pleci agar lebih rajin berkicau. Sebenarnya, Memacu Pleci untuk berkicau adalah dengan memelihara lebih dari 1 ekor, namun bilamana kurang memungkinkan, kita bisa memelihara beberapa burung yang nada suaranya hampir mirip pleci sebagai bandul untuk memancing minatnya berkicau, contoh : BT, mozambiq, kenari, pare-pare dll.

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Humility is Dead

The other day the Chef found himself in a conundrum and asked me to get the female perspective from all of you.  There he was waiting patiently for his torta, having just ordered from the neighborhood Mexican place.  Next door is a popular nail salon.  In sashays a well-dressed 30-something woman fresh from said nail salon.  He described her as "one of those who was checking to see if everyone was looking at her, flinging her hair from left to right while trying to peer about inconspicuously, but making a big scenario of slamming down her fancy Birkin bag on the counter so everyone could see it was a Birkin bag." (And yes he does know what a Birkin bag is.  It's been two years.)

Anyway, as she's standing there at the counter the Chef notices her flouncy, yet long, skirt is tucked into her panties.  They are bright pink and on display for all the world to see - or at least the folks in the torta shop (and yes I did ask color and if it was a thong.  in fact i made him do a demo in the cat food aisle at petco). He was conflicted.  She was clearly on a high coming off a fresh mani-pedi - what if she went off and thought he was a perv?  Next thing you knew his order was brought over so he just left.  What a nightmare.

Question:  What would you have wanted?  A male stranger to tell you your undies and derriere were hanging out? Or for him to just leave and allow you to later die of embarrassment in peace always wondering if anyone had really noticed eventually convincing yourself they hadn't even though you know you're just lying to yourself to ease the horror? (holy run-on sentence!)

 the sun did shine.  my legs were white.  my underwear was not on display.

i've had dreams of this tunic all summer...i let it out before it warmed up.

i love all shades of purple...i'd imagined wearing it with a tan. 

pasty is not the new black. neither is one's butt hanging out in public.

this would have been my face if someone had told me -

it is the look of "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

What I would like to know is how does a long skirt get tucked into one's undergarments at the nail salon presuming one did not use the facilities?  She had to have used the facilities, no?  And personally, I think I'd want to know.  I shudder just thinking about it.  He asked me if I thought he should have said something.  I told him I thought if there had been an inconspicuous way so as to not draw any further attention to her, then yes.  Thankfully the place was not packed.  She did have to walk down Melrose afterward though....it kind of never has no one on it 

Lady?  Are you out there?  Just crawl into your Birkin bag.  This too shall pass.  

Ever have this happen to you?  You don't have to share if you don't want to. Some experiences just need to die.

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Owl is Lost

"I have a baby hawk or maybe an owl and it's on the ground right by the swimming pool! There are kids and dogs all over the place. What should I do?"

That was the call I got early on the evening of August 4 from the manager of a local swimming pool. After a few questions from me about the bird's size, shape, color, and eyes, we determined that this was probably a fledgling eastern screech-owl.

I told the manager to pick up the fledgling gently and place it up in a tree, out of grabbing reach of youngsters and leaping reach of dogs. And if this was not possible, or if he could not pick up the owl to call me back and I'd drive into town to help him. I did not hear back that night, so I assumed all was well.

The phone rang again the following morning. It was another pool employee this time, calling to report that the baby owl was back on the ground. This was no good, so I made plans to stop by to help on my way in to work.

This time of year here in the Midwest, young owls are "branching" out from the nest. During this phase of their lives, the young owls are testing their wings and learning some of the life skills that will sustain them in the future. They are still being fed by the parents at night, however, and I did not want to kidnap an otherwise healthy fledgling just because it seemed like a good idea.

Pulling into the pool facility parking lot, I, and my friends Lisa and Jeff who were visiting from Boston, found two women and a very concerned young boy. The owlet was on the grass beneath a white pine tree.The pine, where the manager had placed the owl the night before, was only slightly larger than the one Charlie Brown puts up for Christmas each year—not really a safe place. Clearly the owl had tried to fly and had ended up grounded again.

Sure enough, it was a young red-morph eastern screech-owl. I crawled under the pine tree and looked it over carefully. It seemed tired but appeared to be physically unharmed. No drooping wings or balance problems, and no blood or mussed feathers that might indicate a car collision or an encounter with a predator.

It would not take the pieces of thawed beef I offered on some long tweezers, so I called the Science Chimp for a phone referral. She confirmed my plan was the wise move—to find the owl's nest cavity if possible and return it there, or, at least to get it up into a larger tree where it would be safe until dark.

I glanced around me for likely trees. There were many smallish deciduous trees in the park surrounding the pool, but none looked likely as the owl's pint of origin. Across the road by the river, large ashes, mulberries, sycamores, oaks, and water maples grew and most of them had cavities where an owl family could live. I felt certain that this little guy or gal had glided across the road from these trees, landed on the ground, and was unable to fly back again. I would return the owl across the road.

The poison-ivy jungle.

The trouble was the entire tree-clad river bank was covered in a vine-y tangle of poison ivy. I walked closer. There was a low-hanging water maple branch with a partial cavity at its base. If I could get the owl there, I'd feel good about its chances of surviving until night when the owlet would emit some begging calls and its parents would likely resume their flights of food.

Poison ivy and I do not get along so swimmingly. I glanced down at my Teva sandals, sockless feet and bare legs (not a great day to wear shorts). There was no way to reach the branch without tip-toeing through the ivy. The pool was not yet open so we had no option to wrap me up mummy-style in towels. I was going to have to dive into the ivy, deliver the owl to its branch, and high-step back out again. Then I was going to have to wash my legs in bleach lest I go into fits of scratching that would make Fleegle from The Banana Splits look pest free.

Just as I was about to scoop up the owl for my mission of mercy, my birding and music pal Steve McCarthy showed up, fully clad in his always-fashionable business-casual attire—including long pants, socks, and normal human shoes. He'd been up the river at the dam looking at the season's first snowy egret.

Steve McCarthy, bird rescuer and local raconteur

Apprised of the situation, Steve did not hesitate. He took the young, lost nocturnal raptor and delivered it safely to the water maple branch.

The owlet in its new, safer roost spot.

He even snapped a few of these images with my cellphone's camera. What a guy!

The owl was much better concealed in the new spot. It's just right of center on the main branch.

I gave careful instructions to the pool gals to watch for the owl for the next few days. I told them its parents would be feeding it and that it should soon be fully flighted and thus better able to avoid ending up back on the ground. They promised to call if they found it again. I never got a call so I'm assuming that all's well that ends well.

Or should it be owls well that ends well....ah, whooo knows.

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Dutzi Design Inc: Handmade Bags and Totes That Give Back

While out shopping last week amidst my current existential crisis *remember I mentioned that here* I visited a friend's shop in Laguna Beach.  As I expressed my dire condition (drama queen anyone?) she had this bright look in her eye and I knew she was about to haul something out of her magical little back room in yet another attempt to seize my wallet.

Enter Dutzi Design

When she opened the box and began pulling out samples I immediately picked up the faint smell of burlap.  The scent was very familiar to me because I grew up on a farm on the Canadian Prairies and was tasked with helping my parents dig potatoes out of the garden in the fall - transferring them to none other than, you guessed it, burlap sacks.  The smell of those bags took me back in an instant - it was wonderful!  The designs were pretty special, too.

Ariane Dutzi is the Founder and Designer of Dutzi Design Inc. - a handbag workshop in the Yucatan that was created in 2009 to empower women to meet, work together and learn the basic rules of entrepreneurship.  Dutzi is a former fashion editor who worked for the likes of Elle, Vanity Fair, Glamour and Mademoiselle while living in Paris and New York before moving to the Yucatan.  I had the opportunity to speak with her at length today and she is truly a fantastically warm and inspiring woman who is committed to empowering the Mayan people.  

~Burlap Tote~

Ariane didn't just want to create another handbag, belt, or other accessory...she wanted to be able to make a difference in the lives of the people of the Yucatan.  Family is very important to the Mayan people so her business model allows women, and now men as well, to come to the workshop for training, pick up the materials, and deliver the finished, handcrafted bags. 

~Burlap Tote~

The craftswomen and men are paid for each bag they make, which gives them the freedom to work from home while caring for their families. Not only does this provide them the flexibility to manage their lives, but with Ariane's training and oversight they learn the value of consistent quality and on-time delivery.

~Burlap Tote~

I have to say I absolutely love the idea behind Dutzi Design.  Let's face it - there is no assembly line involved here.  When you buy a bag you know that it was handcrafted by one person from start to finish.  One set of hands made that bag and it is a unique item.  

~Raffia Tote~

Not only that, but the individual who made it is a mini-entrepreneur.  They are paid per bag and make a personal investment in each piece they construct which, in turn, results in a sense of ownership and pride in each piece that is produced. I love that these craftspeople are given the opportunity to keep family their focus while learning a trade, developing business acumen, and managing their personal lives.

~Burlap Clutch~

I don't know about you, but this type of item really speaks to me.  I like knowing that I'm helping someone who otherwise might not have a lot of choices.  Knowing that I'm investing in another person's life and helping to strengthen a community gives me a sense of pride as a consumer but, more importantly, a sense of brotherhood/sisterhood as a member of the human race *which I realize may sound cheesy, but is genuinely how I feel*.  Remember when I jumped off my wallet for the Lemlem Tunic?  It seemed like a chunk of change at the time, but I feel so good inside when I wear that cover up.  Like I'm playing my part, too.

The Dutzi Design e-Commerce site will be up and running in September.  In the meantime, Ariane has sent me an item list with basic pricing to go over with you.  If you are interested in learning more and/or purchasing, please send a quick email to carrieonnn@gmail.com.  

I would love to get your thoughts on this one ladies.  There really is nothing more gratifying than helping someone out...and getting a handbag or tote in the process is more than a fair trade!

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A Good Samaritan and a Swiss Bank Bag

Monday again.  I find these "Mondays" of ours particularly difficult to deal with coming off of a refreshing weekend, and refreshing it was.  That was the sound of a deep exhale.

Friday night the Chef and I decided to go to his place.  Trouble was we were at my place and had to make it over there.  This might sound like a small task, but there was so much to be done in order to make that happen.  Read:  catch up on Dateline, 20/20 and 48 Hours.  So by the time we pulled it together it was midnight and we found ourselves at In-N-Out Burger (aka manna from heaven - and for those of you not in AZ, CA, NV, UT please get to one of these locations stat to get a taste of what is rightfully yours).  As we were pulling out of the parking lot there was a man on the sidewalk amidst a bunch of teenage boys and he appeared to be asking them a question.  They all had the deer in the headlights look, so he began to cross in front of the car and I said to the Chef, "be careful.  This one might be packing the crazy."  He had made eye contact with me as he crossed in front and, sure enough, came to the Chef's window and began talking so he rolled it down a bit.  At this point the man asked where the nearest gas station was - which was well over a mile away - because he had run out of gas.  When we responded truthfully he asked for a ride.

Enter:  conundrum.  We are helpers by nature, but we are in Southern California - not the rural farming community I grew up in - this is no joke.  It was such an awkward moment because the guy looked a little disheveled and kinda dirty, but I guess I would too if I ran out of gas and was frantically looking for help after midnight.  And we truly did want to help, so we offered to take his container, fill it up, and return it to him.  He obliged and as we were returning with the gas I said to the Chef, "what a damn shame it is that we can't even give someone who needs a ride - a ride - for fear of our lives.  What kind of world do we live in where we can no longer feel safe helping someone?"  It truly made me very sad.  When we got back we gave him his container of gas and his change, and insisted we didn't want any compensation for helping someone who needed help.  And I apologized to him for not being comfortable to give him a ride, and even though he understood I pressed the point of the apology because I felt really bad to have had to leave him standing on the corner at bloody 12:30 in the morning.  Oy.

This is how the weekend began.  That experience, and several others of late, caused me to change my weekend cleaning plans.  Instead, early Saturday afternoon we hauled out of the house and decided to grab poolside brunch and cocktails at a small spot in the Chef's neighborhood.  We don't usually do this kind of lunch/brunch outing, but it was so nice and warm that we gave it a go.  What a wonderful idea.  If you follow me on twitter you saw a picture of our cocktails at, oh, roughly 5pm.  That's right.  We were there for hours people!!  I ended up chatting with a woman who grew up in the Bronx and now lives in Mexico with her husband who is a Chef, but has abandoned the profession to make handmade leather goods.  Yeah, get there ladies - he cooks and makes accessories.  She was the tiniest little bird who told me about her two kids, their lives in Mexico, that she's a trained dancer, did a little hip-hop imitation, took off her leather bracelet and tied it around my wrist...oh my gosh the stories I could release.  I never laughed so hard and had so much fun.  She was completely awesome (Chef says I have my first girl crush - hehe) and if I had stayed inside and done the laundry I would have never met her.  And what are the odds in LA where, no offense to anyone in LA because I love it, people are not always so down to earth and friendly?  She noted my handbag - made from authentic Swiss bank bags for reals - and I oooohed and ahhhhed over her belt and the rest was history.  I had been regretting the frivolous purchase of that unnecessary bag, but it ended up being the catalyst to a fantastic afternoon filled with laughter, a new friend, and a bracelet.  Life's too short.  The laundry can wait.

There's the lucky bag and my new bracelet.

Here's a close-up.  We were flying sans camera so this is it.

 Here you find the picture of a content woman post cocktails

...and an afternoon of stories and laughs. Yay!
(and yes that is a slight tilt)

Too bad there's a pile of work waiting for me this week, as well as a boatload of laundry, but that's okay because the weekend's coming. Ha! Wait a sec...I guess it may not get done then either?  Uh-oh!

What did you guys do?  Happy Monday!

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