Seriously, WTF?!?!?

I promise, the next post will be fiber-related (I actually have lots to show) But, as a long time Chicagoan and Illinois girl, I can't pass this up. Between his relentless assertions of innocence and his latest press jaunt, this situation is really on my last nerve..

Time for some comic relief. Like Blagojevich, my family hails from the former Yugoslavia (he is Serbian, whereas I'm a Croatian/Slovenian mix). As you might recall from the 1990s, the groups don't generally get along all that well.

Every week, I recieve this Slovenian newspaper with all sorts of news of Slovenian-Americans and news from abroad. Many advertisements for all things Slovenian (polka CDs, recipe books travel groups etc.) And potica. Potica (pronounced po-TEET-sa) is this wonderful nutroll coffee cake known throughout Slovenia and Croatia that is pretty labor intensive to make.

So I was thrilled to find a bakery in Colorado that has mail order potica--Rocky Mountain Potica. Proclaiming that they have the "Best potica this side of Ljubljana", they carry many versions of the coffee cake-- some traditional, some contemporary and some just plain funny.

Take their "Blagojevich Totally Nuts Potica". I love the description:

"For the true nut lover, because IT DOESN'T GET ANY NUTTIER THAN THIS. This Potica is 'BLEEPING GOLDEN'"

I have to order some of this!

My Baloney has a First Name.......

So, I'm back home for a few days trying to catch up on everything and happened to look at the stat counter on this blog. I fully expected there to be no traffic, since I haven't written in over a week and have not been active online at all. To my suprise, there have been a lot of hits so far this month. Any where are they coming from? A blog called Bacon Talk! Hello to all you Bacon Talk readers!

Bacon Talk features all sorts of tidbits regarding bacon and happened to link to this earlier entry of mine. I love the fact that the entry linking my blog is listed under "Bacon Culture". I also love the fact that all of the entries are authored by "His Baconness". Further investigation led me to realize that the blog is sponsored by Oscar Meyer. I have to say, they are being really saavy by being subtle and not making the blog too brand specific, which would ruin the fun of the site.

I love how all sorts of companies are in on social marketing. So who exactly are you, Sir Baconness--out yourself! If anything like my old organization, I'm guessing you are a 20-something with a sly sense of humor. Either a relatively new internal hire or part of an outsourced marketing firm--I'm not sure which.

Am I right?

"If it's not your ass, it's your elbow"

The quote is complements of my 83-year-old Aunt Helen. She's one of the funniest people I know and the person I want to be when I grow up.

The quote perfectly sums up the past few days that seem like weeks. Or maybe it's weeks that seem like months. I'm kind of losing track.

A series of parental health problems, doctors visits and an unexpected hospital stay. I've been in the same clothes for the past four days. This morning I ended up borrowing a pair of my mom's underwear (that one is just wrong on so may levels--I shoulda gone commando, but I'm running on scant sleep)

There is nothing easy about facing long term care for a parent. At least I'm from a large family to share the burden/emotion/whatever. Fringe benefit of being Catholic (cue "Every Sperm is Sacred" from Monty Python...)

An unrelated fringe benefit is that I'm getting a helluva lot of knitting done.

Goat Turds and Christmas

No Kochevar family Christmas is complete without these cookies--the best cookies of all holidays recipes. Ok, so they are really called Swedish Cocoa Balls, but nobody (except my Mom) actually calls them that. My oldest bother Marty--classy guy that he is--christened them years ago and the name has stuck. And they are awesome cookies.

Case in point: an old childhood friend found me recently via Facebook--we haven't been in contact for over 20 years. The first thing she asks (yes, even before the obligatory "what-have-you- been-doing- the-past-20-years" question), was "Hey, can I get the goat turd recipe?"

And now the dilemma: I'm visiting friends tomorrow for holiday fun and have been asked to bring said cookies. The household includes two impressionable and hilarious boys, ages 5 and 8. They already think that the name of my cat--Booger--is the best pet name they've ever heard. So of course, I feel like it is my duty to introduce them to the best cookie name ever. Their Mom is all for it, but Dad would prefer that the boys not know about it. I have a feeling that Mom or I will spill the beans. Or turds, as the case may be.

And the photo? This is my second-favorite family holiday photo. It's my nephew Joe (offspring of the the oh-so-classy Marty) circa early '90s, proudly posing with the plate of goat turds that he made. The cookies are actually supposed to be round, but in his hands, well, you can see the result..... The apple does not fall far from the tree.....

Snow Bliss

This is the scene that greets me after a snowfall--it is one of the skylights in my living room. I love how the snow creates shadows on the wall.

I am an unapologetic snow lover--it bothers me to no end that the weathermen in Chicago are constantly apologizing every time there is a snow forecast. And they always over-predict, which leaves me disappointed (expecting 8-10 inches and we get maybe 4). There is a joke in here about men overexaggerating about size, but I'll leave that alone....

Anyhow, we have a glorious snowcover that is ready for cross country skiing!! I'm going to finish up a few Etsy orders and head out on my skis for the first time this season!

"Looks Like Bacon"

Oh, the things people say. One of these days, I'm going to write an entry just on the things I hear from customers at art shows. So this weekend was the last of my shows for the '08 season--the busiest so far. Thanks to everyone who came out and supported my work and to those of you shopping on Etsy.

And the bacon quote? Hands down, this was the funniest quote I heard from a customer all year. Usually the strangest comments come from men, but this was from a woman looking at my Flamenco scarves. Her husband was mortified and said, "No, no, it's really sculptural. " She looked at him skeptically and deadpanned, "No--it looks like bacon".

Now I do love my hickory-smoked breakfast meats and now that I think of it, the Flamenco scarf in brick red does kind of look like bacon, but I'm not sure that I'll use that description for marketing purposes.

This however, really looks like bacon:

It is created by fellow fiber artist Chris Chunski, who believe it or not, is a vegan from California. She has sold over 30 of these felted bacon scarves on Etsy!!

And here I am, a meat-loving girl from the hog butcher for the world, Chicago. Maybe I should use the description-- I can see it now: Da Windy City Bacon Scarf. Or the Kielbasa Cape?

Nah....

Cornelia Arts Holiday Show and $5 Coupon

This weekend (starting this evening) is the Cornelia Arts Holiday Show --my last show of a busy, busy season! Thanks to everyone who came out last weekend at Bucktown--since the $5 coupon was so popular, I'm doing it again. And for the first time, I'll be having sale basket with items that are 50% off!

If you haven't been to this show before, it has a fun atmosphere. Located in a converted warehouse in Ravenswood, it is a collection of artist's studios that is only open to the public a few times a year. It's a great opportunity to see the work spaces of local artisans. And a few of us lucky folks are invited to participate with them each year.

Since you're in the neighborhood, be sure to swing by Architectural Artifacts. Instead of the usual 25% holiday sale, everything in the gallery (I hesitate to call it a store) is 50% from December 6-23! This is one of the coolest places in Chicago, with wonderful finds from all over the world. I plan to pick up some more Art Deco tiles.

Have a great weekend and stay warm!