Cant be arsed writing

Yes I have turned into a lazy just throw up a picture blogger, MEH!

More photos from this hike here 

A Little Taste of Everything: Pittsburgh's Strip District

Today we're going on another field trip. This time, a bit closer to home-- to Pittsburgh's Strip District.

No, I know what you're thinking, but never fear. This isn't some dodgy expedition involving girls named Trixie. This is something I imagine you'll be able to support happily.

Apparently "X" marks the spot, too, because the Strip District here in Pittsburgh is a food-lover's paradise.


This area of warehouses bustles on Saturday mornings, with shoppers choosing from fresh produce, Pittsburgh souveniers and delicacies from all over the world. Want seafood or meats? Pop by Wholey's Market (pronounced Wooly's), and not only will you be spoiled for choice, but you'll get treated to some guy outside on the accordian playing, "The Chicken Dance." Between the music, the street vendors and the scent of kettle corn in the air, the Strip District can feel a bit like a carnival for grown-ups.


Looking for the ingredients for the perfect pasta? Try the Macaroni Factory. Something Asian, maybe? There's no shortage there.

How about spices? I love to go to Penzey's. They have a pork chop seasoning that really makes them, in my view. This day, I ended up getting some California Paprika and an Indian seasoning for lamb and beef.


Or maybe Greek is more to your taste. Then let's hit Stamoolis Brothers. Me, I can't get enough of their stuffed grape leaves (that dill on them is so perky!). And my friend Scoobie loves their pastries, so she now has more Kataifi in her possession (it's this excellent shredded wheat pastry soaked in honey) than your average Greek Food Festival.


And speaking of dessert-- the Mon Aimee Chocolat is a favorite stop, because I can pick up imported Cadbury chocolate bars, like Flake bars.


I know my UK and Canadian readers will probably laugh at this, but our Cadbury here just doesn't have the taste and texture of yours. And this Strip District shop is only of the only places in the area we can get it.

There's also antiquing to be had. So first we hit Zerrer's Antiques in the upper part of the Strip. This shop has an eclectic mix of antiques and collectible vintage items.


I found a pair of 40s pottery candlesticks ($6), a planter from the same time period which claims to be McCoy but I need to verify (doesn't matter either way to me, really. I like the color and shape) and the sugar bowl I needed for my rapidly-growing Hazel Atlas Moderntone set.




I also found one more grape goblet for the lady I'm building the milkglass set for. This was my kind of price-- $1!


Next we go to Mahla Antiques in the heart of the Strip. This is a higher-end shop, with beautiful examples of things like Staffordshire, art nouveau pieces, mid-century modern, and more. Just walking around here is an education.


It was probably also an education for the poor woman who inadvertenly knocked something over when we were there, too. OH, the SOUND of that glass piece, whatever it was, bouncing off a piece of furniture and shattering into a billion chunks. My heart went out to her, and as she and the owners were trying to clean up the mess, there was just so much CLINKING. I have no idea what the item was, but it sounded largish and I almost wept FOR her. Mistakes like that could not have been cheap.

To her credit, she seemed to accept the accident like a trooper.

Well, with bags of sweet and savory items in hand, we headed off to lunch. And I thought you all might enjoy seeing this rather unique microbrewery we have here in the 'Burgh.


This is the Church Brew Works, a beautiful landmark that was set for demolition and instead converted into a restaurant.




Oh, I'm aware it's very STRANGE to see a church converted in this way. Guests are always shocked and entranced. (My best friend from back home, who is Catholic, joked she felt the need to genuflect on the way to the table.) But the beauty and history has remained intact, and the food is quite good. (Mm, portabello pesto pizza!)


Anyway, I thought you might all enjoy seeing it.

So that's our little adventure for this week. I'm not exactly sure what we'll get up to next week. But I'll try to whip up something to tickle your collective fancies. :)

A Little Taste of Everything: Pittsburgh's Strip District

Today we're going on another field trip. This time, a bit closer to home-- to Pittsburgh's Strip District.

No, I know what you're thinking, but never fear. This isn't some dodgy expedition involving girls named Trixie. This is something I imagine you'll be able to support happily.

Apparently "X" marks the spot, too, because the Strip District here in Pittsburgh is a food-lover's paradise.


This area of warehouses bustles on Saturday mornings, with shoppers choosing from fresh produce, Pittsburgh souveniers and delicacies from all over the world. Want seafood or meats? Pop by Wholey's Market (pronounced Wooly's), and not only will you be spoiled for choice, but you'll get treated to some guy outside on the accordian playing, "The Chicken Dance." Between the music, the street vendors and the scent of kettle corn in the air, the Strip District can feel a bit like a carnival for grown-ups.


Looking for the ingredients for the perfect pasta? Try the Macaroni Factory. Something Asian, maybe? There's no shortage there.

How about spices? I love to go to Penzey's. They have a pork chop seasoning that really makes them, in my view. This day, I ended up getting some California Paprika and an Indian seasoning for lamb and beef.


Or maybe Greek is more to your taste. Then let's hit Stamoolis Brothers. Me, I can't get enough of their stuffed grape leaves (that dill on them is so perky!). And my friend Scoobie loves their pastries, so she now has more Kataifi in her possession (it's this excellent shredded wheat pastry soaked in honey) than your average Greek Food Festival.


And speaking of dessert-- the Mon Aimee Chocolat is a favorite stop, because I can pick up imported Cadbury chocolate bars, like Flake bars.


I know my UK and Canadian readers will probably laugh at this, but our Cadbury here just doesn't have the taste and texture of yours. And this Strip District shop is only of the only places in the area we can get it.

There's also antiquing to be had. So first we hit Zerrer's Antiques in the upper part of the Strip. This shop has an eclectic mix of antiques and collectible vintage items.


I found a pair of 40s pottery candlesticks ($6), a planter from the same time period which claims to be McCoy but I need to verify (doesn't matter either way to me, really. I like the color and shape) and the sugar bowl I needed for my rapidly-growing Hazel Atlas Moderntone set.




I also found one more grape goblet for the lady I'm building the milkglass set for. This was my kind of price-- $1!


Next we go to Mahla Antiques in the heart of the Strip. This is a higher-end shop, with beautiful examples of things like Staffordshire, art nouveau pieces, mid-century modern, and more. Just walking around here is an education.


It was probably also an education for the poor woman who inadvertenly knocked something over when we were there, too. OH, the SOUND of that glass piece, whatever it was, bouncing off a piece of furniture and shattering into a billion chunks. My heart went out to her, and as she and the owners were trying to clean up the mess, there was just so much CLINKING. I have no idea what the item was, but it sounded largish and I almost wept FOR her. Mistakes like that could not have been cheap.

To her credit, she seemed to accept the accident like a trooper.

Well, with bags of sweet and savory items in hand, we headed off to lunch. And I thought you all might enjoy seeing this rather unique microbrewery we have here in the 'Burgh.


This is the Church Brew Works, a beautiful landmark that was set for demolition and instead converted into a restaurant.




Oh, I'm aware it's very STRANGE to see a church converted in this way. Guests are always shocked and entranced. (My best friend from back home, who is Catholic, joked she felt the need to genuflect on the way to the table.) But the beauty and history has remained intact, and the food is quite good. (Mm, portabello pesto pizza!)


Anyway, I thought you might all enjoy seeing it.

So that's our little adventure for this week. I'm not exactly sure what we'll get up to next week. But I'll try to whip up something to tickle your collective fancies. :)

Workspace exposed again.

After the the mega spring clean I did recently, which in the end took a couple of weeks, because I had to be ruthless. I have now have a lovely workspace to mess up again, its sort of like the picture at the moment,just more paperwork from college stuff.

Here is what it use to look like Messy version.

Willy gets high in Wales

Willy joined me on the latest hike mentioned here Hiking in Devil's Kitchen, he was kept in my pocket for most of the hike, as it was a bit cold.

After while Willy got a bit claustrophobic and needed to released, so I let him out to play for a bit. He even attempted a naked snow angel, but then demanded to be put back in my pocket to get warm.

The weather wasn't great, as we were quite high up, so down the mountains we had to go, read more about it by clicking here Hiking in Devil's Kitchen.

British Speak

In the interest of making myself better understood, as I know several of you don't understand some of my British terms, I have embarked on a project with a fellow blogger.
When I say embarked, he badgered me until I relented. He is an American seeking to understand us British folks that much better. So much so his entire blog is dedicated to this sole purpose.
So how could I possibly help? Its easy to find out what specific words mean by using the good old google search engines, but can you be sure that you are using them in the right context? Thats where I come in.

So click on my face and see how I put some of the words into action, they maybe slightly rude, but I didn't pick them.

Toodle pip!

Counselling Homework update

Well this confidentiality post is just not happening at the moment, hopefully I will make more progress on it tomorrow. Its a hard to find a balance between a well informed post that covers important legal and ethical obligations, whilst still being an easy read.
Also i don't want to lose sight of that fact that I am just a counsellor in training and in no way an expert in this matter. I hope that does not sound like a cop out, I just don't want to sound like an idiot.

While I am working on this, is there anything you are wondering about my course or counselling in general?

Click Here
Counselling Posts
for the rest of my counselling posts.

Treasure Box Wednesday: Wartime Suggestions, Cheap Chic and Classic Reads

It's October 1943 and World War II is raging. Americans are having to tighten their belts like never before. How does a homemaker make the most of her rations?

Equitable Gas hoped to make it a little easier and more efficient with this booklet I found at the Goodwill in Monroeville. And it's amazing how comprehensive it is! From how to make appliances last and how to make meat go further to low flame, minimum water cooking techniques, designed to "save minerals, vitamins, flavor." Just LOOK at all this poor housewife has to consider in trying to keep her family on track!


Also, how often do we see an employee of our gas companies giving us helpful advice about our household tasks these days? Mine just put bright yellow notices on my front door complaining I'm not at home to let them in to read the meter when they pop by unannounced.


And look at this-- by running your home the way Equitable Gas suggests, you're showing "Cooperation, to speed the 'Coming of V-Day.'" Notice the smiling troops over there, happy to see us following these super "Modern Methods" of cooking, extending our meat rations, and maintaining our appliances.


Okay, now let's leap forward into the future a bit... Well, just a LITTLE bit...With these thrifted books. I've always wanted to read Capote and Salinger and have never had the chance. So when you find them for $0.99 a piece at the Goodwill, there really is no better time!


Keeping to the 40s theme (inadvertently) is this Hazel Atlas Moderntone creamer, that probably looks fairly familiar to some, since it matches the plates I found in Ohio over the weekend. This was at the Salvation Army back in Pittsburgh, though.


And lastly, I found a Shabby Chic curtain panel from Target for $3. Which is, ironically, WAY cheaper than that same panel currently is in Target right now.


I have no idea why it made its way to the Goodwill while that pattern is still in the department stores-- there's nothing wrong with it. But there it was, anyway. If I don't use it as a curtain, I'll use it in some other manner. It's always fun to see where things end up.

But I know where this has to end up today. With me saying good-bye for now.

• If you missed the weekend roadtrip to Ohio antiquing, I'd still be more than happy to have you virtually tag along with me. Just click here.

Take care of yourselves, and remember, gas prices may be skyrocketing and the economy may look grim, but history shows us, it could be a lot worse. :)