Cat – little siddall studios

Posted on June 11, 2014September 8, 2020 by Becky Gean — Leave a comment

garlic scapes – but what the heck do you do with them?

it comes and goes oh so quickly. if you are lucky enough, you will be able to take advantage of garlic scape season. prepared in advance, you can enjoy garlic scapes well into the winter too.

garlic scape pesto & garlic scape butter. yes please!

sautéing garlic scapes in butter is my favourite! it’s honestly a joy just to chop them up and they smell fantastic! i throw them in with eggs for my breakfast. or i’ll chop them into 2 inch sticks and roast them with potatoes, tomatoes, onions, whatever kind of veggies i have in the house.

black sheep farms said – the season can start as early as the beginning of june and only lasts for a couple of weeks. last year their scape season ran from mid to end of June – it all depends on how early/warm/wet spring is each year.

i haven’t seen them pop up at my local farmers’ market yet, but when i do, you better believe i’ll be snatching them right up! check out this super cute article from the messy baker, making soup out of a scapes. a lot of scapes. mmm.

Becky Gean and littlesiddallstudios – June 11th, 2014.

Posted on January 22, 2014September 9, 2020 by Becky Gean — 2 Comments

i’m just winging it.

take a peak at my instagram feed and you’ll quickly notice that i spend lots of time with tut and my laptop.
do not be fooled though – the truth is…
i’m just winging it.
when it comes to this blog and the back end of things.

ha ha – back end.
i’m such a child at heart.

i’ve seen it happen to other awesome bloggers i follow – site down due to maintenance – i have nightmares about this happening. do i have a backup? how often should i backup? should i care? it’s just words. words i never want to forget though.

one day this site is not going to work and i’m not going to know why.
because – i’m just winging it.

are you someone who’s just winging it too? here’s hoping i’m not alone.
what can i say – i’m a creative first and techie second – but i’m learning! google is a wonderful thing.

Posted on January 27, 2013September 9, 2020 by Becky Gean

getting a little personal about my lately – and a pic of my cat.

sunday tut.

sunday_tut

aside from my regular 9-5 job, i find myself wanting to learn to the fullest without actually stepping foot inside a school. there’s a little bit of fear and regret still lingering in that department, but that’s another story. i’ve been reading books, magazines, blogs (of course), free ibooks that come on my phone (they rock!), news articles, independent magazines, cookbooks (LOVE!!!!!!) – you name it. i find i jump all over the place which keeps my brain happy and my thoughts flowing.

i’ve been working on this blog. in the background. the behind the scenes.

you know when a movie ends, the credits roll, everyone gets up and leaves? well – i don’t. i stay. some of my favourite moments with mohawk are when we’re sitting in a movie theatre, lights are lifted ever so slightly and the movie theatre staff start filtering in with brooms. yes, i realize they must dislike folks like me – who stay until the very end.

three reasons i do this.

you never know if there might be a teaser or a fun blooper at the end. if there is, yippee! you are part of the select few who got to view this secret part of the film. and doesn’t it feel awesome?!?!
you have time to relax, reflect and/or talk and discuss with the person you came with. did you enjoy it? did you relate with any of the characters? could you believe the action scenes?
reading the credits. the names of the people who put that entire film together. i realize that there is a ridiculous amount of work that happens behind the scenes and i want to celebrate those folks. mohawk likes to try to find funny job titles. i like names of people. so i read them to myself. as many as i can. i like to think a feeling of warm fuzzies comes over the people whose names i read. ridiculous, i know. but it makes me happy.

with blogs – there are also credits. just the list is usually a lot shorter. only now am i starting to realize there are REAL genuine people behind all these amazing blogs i read. real people who also have crazy lives, hopes, and dreams just like me.

i realize i’m not perfect. nowhere near. and neither is this blog. but that’s okay. we’re all constantly finding our way. bumps and bruises are to be expected. i’m barely skimming the surface into my hopes for what this blog will become.

here’s to taking all my reading into implementing. and being a little more honest. with myself – and with all of you who read this little blog.

i have given myself two focus words for this coming month. organize and intention. forgive me if i disappear from time to time with my postings or if the site looks strange one day and different the next. i’m not forgetting about you – just getting a little organized first.

happy sunday – wherever you are.

Posted on January 7, 2013September 10, 2020 by Becky Gean

a little about my week – and a pic of my cat.

i’m learning how to take pictures. better.

there is life after the auto focus button.

tut posing ever so still for me as i try to figure out all the manual settings on my camera. ahem – my brothers camera.

went home to visit family we weren’t able to see during the holidays. we’re only in the first week of january! it still felt like christmas. and look at that ring! christmas bling!

Josh and i were able to find a home for our old sofa bed. it had taken up a good portion of space in our second bedroom and well – i need a craft room vs. having a guest bedroom. we have blow up mattresses for that. or the living room couch. whatever you prefer. all i know is – i now have a room to do stuff! organize my tax info! take photos! ~~somewhere to hide when Josh is annoying me.~~ ahem – what? i mean, scrapbook! read! you name it!

…and… one more of tut. because – why not.

happy sunday, at least, still to me. happy monday, for most of you – wherever you are.

Posted on July 29, 2012October 11, 2021 by Becky Gean — 1 Comment

a scary movie. a birthday. and a pic of my cat.

– the paper place on queen st west in toronto was hosting a letter-writing night. being a lover of all things crafty, especially paper, i had to go. it was a huge turn out! they had lemonade and macaroons (the way to my heart) as refreshments. i wrote a letter to each of my grandmas while i was there and popped them in the mail on my way home.

– josh is a lover of scary movies. me? not so much. we started what we call “Obscure Movie Night” – this can be held on any particular night of the week, but tend to be mondays. we flip-flop who gets to pick the movie. this time it was his turn.

paranormal activity 3. great. i thought i was in the clear after the first two. nope. and the fourth one is out this october – which i’m sure i’ll also be coaxed into watching. little does he know i’ve planned a fantastic feeler chick flick for us next week.

okay, i’m lying. i don’t have one planned. suggestions?

– OH! and i guess i should tell you! the actual physical mohawk got put into hibernation again. i have to say, it’s a little freaky waking up to what you think is a stranger next to you – you know that jolt out of your skin feeling.

then realize, no, wait – josh has just shaved his mohawk off.
that and, oh right becky – this is the reason you need corrective lenses.

– more macaroons!!! the perfect ending to my perfect birthday weekend of camping. i LOVE camping. we enjoyed delicious food cooked over the fire all weekend. i had a wonderful surprise show up straight to my campsite. two friends that i didn’t think were coming! what a lovely birthday present! i even got to blow out candles on some fantastic double chocolate white chocolate chunk brownies with ganache that my dear friend andy made.

– and for tut – he had his first veterinary visit this week. he’s not the happiest with me right now.

Posted on July 15, 2012September 8, 2020 by Becky Gean — Leave a comment

a little bbq – and a pic of my cat.

– i’m becoming a little obsessed with the fact that i have access to a barbecue. it’s wonderful. Josh and i made a feast… for just the two of us. it was delicious. not 20 min before we went to the rooftop it was pouring rain. we were lucky enough to have the rain stop for just the right amount of time to bbq, no umbrella required.

– aside from barbecuing, i’ve been itching to bake something in my new-to-me kitchen. specifically, this delectable looking strawberry rhubarb pie from smitten kitchen. but after carefully reading through the recipe, i think i’ll take Deb’s advice and try the improved version – one of the many reasons to love smitten kitchen. go check it out. you’ll fall in love too.

– had women (special awesome ones) over for refreshing cocktails and grilled veggies on the bbq. YUM! again, with the barbecue – i know.

– tut had friends over this weekend! two little munchkins, or rather, two tea-cup pomeranians – weezer and carmen are their names. can you guess who is who? Josh’s mother came down to visit and brought them with her. it was a relaxing weekend for me. for tut – not so much. the little ones kept him on his toes until they left. at which point he crashed and had a long needed nap.

happy sunday – wherever you are.

Posted on July 8, 2012September 8, 2020 by Becky Gean — Leave a comment

the St. Lawrence market – and a pic of my cat.

with moving comes a new neighbourhood. a new coffee shop. a new grocery store. a new route to work.

i like the new adventure. the change.

Josh and i awoke at noon on saturday, after a night of partying with work colleagues. i put the party together, so i was exhausted and felt well deserved of the extra sleep.

i coerced mohawk into walking with me to the St. Lawrence Market. walking is not his favourite thing to do. i would have hopped on the back of his bike if we knew where the bike lock went during the move. (one of the MANY things that have gone M.I.A – missing – in – apartment, over the course of the move)

since we woke up so late, we missed getting to the farmer’s market that closes at 3pm and is only open on saturdays. we had plenty of time to walk around the south market though, which is also open during the week. the next saturday to come that i have free, you better believe i’m waking up early! with or without mohawk!

other than one time with my dad that i can remember, well over 10 years ago, i haven’t stepped foot into the St. Lawrence Market. no idea why. now that i live so close, i have no excuse not to take advantage of one of the top 10 food markets in the world – that’s what National Geographic thinks anyways. i would have to agree with them.

don’t walk into the market hungry – you will want to buy EVERYTHING IN SIGHT! thank goodness i had only a tiny amount of cash in my wallet and i refuse to pay the ATM fee to take out cash, so i bought very little and looked only with my eyes.

below are a few shots that i took while strolling through the main floor of the south market – many of which i will be back to try! oh, and of course, a picture of tut. because it wouldn’t be a little bit about my week without a little bit of tut.

happy sunday – wherever you are.