Family Mellmann

It's been a long time since I did any felting so I decided to make a new project bag.  It took me a few weeks, but it is finished and filled with two new projects.

Before the wind could drift the snow into a new shape, I thought I would capture a picture of my pregnant snow guest enjoying the sun on my deck.

Into each Vermont winter an occasional snow day must fall.  This particular snow day brought roughly eighteen inches of snow followed by some seriously cold (-20 degrees Fahrenheit) temperatures. The kids found ways to stay warm or busy. After the big heavy sow was moved (by the snow blower) Katherine went out and cleared the half inch of dust off the driveway and walkway so that it wouldn't get packed down and get slick. Patrick and his buddy hung out over a game of checkers and a little baking. Me?  Just because THEY had a snow day doesn't mean *I* get a snow day.  My task list included cleaning, laundry, and several other chores and office tasks.  Oh, and I was the paparazzi. :)

It has been said that variety is the spice of life.  For the past eighteen years I have made a habit of trying one or two new recipes each week.  The winners get recorded in my recipe book of fame and the less interesting recipes get...forgotten. One of the meals that we really like is the "event meal"; fondue or raclette would be a good example.  One day Joerg suggested that we should try making our own sushi.  Our date night meal is often a local sushi restaurant that we really like, but it can be costly.  I never thought of trying it at home because finding super-fresh, sushimi-grade fish around here can be a challenge.  Some things I had to order in the internet, but most of the ingredients I was able to find at local stores.  It was a great first attempt. So there are three major types of "sushi".  There is the very common maki which is a roll made up of nori (sea weed paper...that's the black sheet that holds all the ingredients together), rice, and