Handcrafted Custom Fishing Rods

A little about where I work;

It is a wholesale company that sells parts for custom fishing rods.guides-hook keepers-EVA rings-corkhandles-woodhandles-thread-blanks
The fellows I work with are all avid fishermen.  They also make their own fishing rods.  Apparently it makes a difference, whether it is a soft stick, or how many guides are on it or if it is a spiral wrap or even a fly rod (which has VERY few guides, if any, just a tip top)
They call our warehouse the candy store.
I have been in charge of our email newsletters for a while (guess they thought that having a blog was the same as writing and compiling a newsletter? This month we are featuring a fellow that is such an artist!
I thought I’d show a couple of his Custom Fishing Rods.
They are as intricate as any quilt … but for the outdoorsman that wants to show off (IMHO)

This is the thread work finished, the big picture is the blank in progress.

This next one is featured this week on our Tips and Tricks... It is snake skin  (not a thread weave)

The guys at work would call this one fish porn.

Gee, aren't you glad you joined me today... look at all this neat stuff ***welcome to my world. (mydaytimeworld)... It's a living, and sometimes the guys bring you fish (salmon and halibut mostly! but there has been the occasional sturgeon, yellow fin tuna and bass).

Social Media Revolution

You know, I may be a little late to the party.... but frankly I didn't grow up in the computer age, my kids did... so how the world has evolved has been a fun 'show' to watch... and pretty amazing to boot. 
Even though I work with a bunch of fishermen.. they are trying to run a business, a family business, and THIS is the way the world works now-a-days.
I sent this to my boss:

Social Media Revolution
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFZ0z5Fm-Ng


This is a GREAT video on the word and the ‘new’ way of reaching people (customers!) And how the WORLD has changed and how everyone is communicating their brand.


You don’t need sound, although it is a great piece of music (no words)

Best thing I learned: it took so many YEARS to reach 50 million people, with radio=38years, then TV=13years, then the internet=4years, then ipods=3years and now it only took less than one year to reach 200 million people with facebook.

Watch and see, I know I learned a lot from this fast moving video

(ignore the Obama girl at the end -the next video preview)

Food Fun Friday - Frittata

first and foremost, you guys rock, you are always so supportive... I felt weird going on about the upcoming wedding and ideas I have.. but you guys really listened and chimed in with interest and ideas. YAY YOU  Thank you from the bottom of my little pea picking heart, although I don't pick peas.

Last weekend I rented Morning Glory:

a fluffy chick flick.
In the movie the character played by Harrison Ford makes a frittata...

Last night there was nothing thawed for dinner.... people coming over in a while so I had to make dinner for us quick and clean up quick
hmmm what to make.......what to make
LIGHTBULB...I did just as the character in the movie did... looked around my kitchen for items that could go into an omelet, umm I mean frittata.  (all you really HAVE to have are eggs and cheese, after that it's anyone's game.) There are tons of recipes on the Internet about ingredients..but I liked being resourceful and looking through the kitchen for items that could be used!
I also realized that I do not have a sauce pan that could go in the oven, but I do have oven proof plates...

This is an easy, a totally filling meal that helps clean out your left overs!!! (and atkins/southbeach friendly!)

A frittata is almost like a quiche... and a lot like an omelet.
I'm adding this one to the menu for once a week!

Succulents- easy to grow

       
Up here in the Pacific Northwest (also in California too) Succulents are very prolific. 
I have a love affair with them! (wish this was mine but alas not..)
Every year at the garden show I buy some.
Then go home and remix and  repot  the ones I already have.

My thought today is... why not use them in the wedding?? huh? Kieri? Lauren? does this sound (look) beautiful and elegant and personal?

my favorite- in a pretty red or colored glass.

That's our problem with a wedding looming in the future... you are always on the look out for interesting things, only with all of us living so far apart it's becoming increasingly hard to pin down the right ideas!~!


over at myselfcareblog  I found a great analogy
Living a Succulent Life.
A few facts about succulents we might take a few lessons from:
1) Succulents are built to survive in tough conditions.
2) They need water, so they absorb it as often as it is available to them.
3) During times of drought, the succulent draws upon its water reserves.
4) Despite the stress of extreme conditions, the succulents actually thrive and become even more brilliant in conditions that make other plants wither and die.

YOU are also built to survive tough conditions, but you need to make sure that you are taking good care of yourself -nurturing your body and soul and getting your physical, emotional, mental, volitional, spiritual and social self care needs met with some regularity. Taking small steps each day to build your reserves will prepare you to be more brilliant and contribute better when you find yourself in a trying moment with your children or situations that call for your superwoman strength.

Wednesday Wisdom

Friends are like stars, we don't always see them but we know that they are there.

Spices.. let's spice it up!!

We are on our third month of:   Love it or Lose it.
I feel pretty good about the job I'm doing, although it will be a life long battle to rein in the clutter!!

While decluttering the house, I found the Pantry Closet to be Pandora's Box.
When Mr. P and I got married 5 years ago, he had his food (he lived here in this town) and I came from 2 states away.  He had some interesting items.... but just what is IN those 3 little jars... homemade pickled somthing that looks like pig-guts????? (and yes I finally threw them out, sorry honey)
Now from two kitchens we have spices on three different shelves.
Are they good?  just how old is old??

Here's what I found out: 
You can keep ground spices 2-3 years.
Whole (cinnamon) 4 yrs

To use spices that actually tast like something, you need to check jar/bottle/can for best by date
and... How to tell how old your spices are???
*If it is tin it is 15 yrs old
*If made in Baltimore it is 15 yrs old
*ALL Schilling spices are at least 7 yrs old.
If there’s a code you can type it in:
http://www.mccormick.com/Spices101/HowOldSpices.aspx

and just FYI  Schilling IS McCormick now!
here's more info: 
*Check the color of your spices. Make sure they're still vibrant. If their color has faded, chances are so has their flavor
*Rub or crush the herb or spice in your hand. If its aroma is weak and flavor is not apparent, then it's time to replace it

This is Spring?

Let me first say that it may be Spring according to the calender, but NOTHING has bloomed and it is still freezing cold here ...with frosted windshields in the morning... 

In other news:
House on the market 2 weeks, 0 showings
Mothers house on the market 1 week, 1 showing
We have been told that we are on the Real Estate Agent tour this week, so finally we will get some interest..because I just know if someone will look at it, they will love it.  As we do.

Now I want to rant a little about Joann's.  We have a little Joann's in the next town (Port Angeles) that is just the worst store ever!  I have NEVER found exactly what I was looking for, AT BEST I will find something that will do.  But mostly I never find anything I am looking from from my extensive list, and from the 'on sale' flyer I receive.  Saturday I drove to the big city, and heard the ~~music~~ as I stepped into the big, FULLY STOCKED Joann's in Silverdale.  They had everything on my list and more!  They had sales, and things I could actually use my coupons on.  I am glad that winter is over and I can travel the hour each way to Joann's to soak a batch of creativity. 
I finally got my curtain material that I have been searching for since  here.
so before picture:

and after