Dreaming Into Creation

...kinda... Well, after a few awesome complete cross-stitch projects, I thought it would be a fantastic idea to start one of the things that I really  wanted to do, thinking it wouldn't be that  hard. Didn't take into account how different stitching on linen if compared to stitching on aida cloth.... Or how small it would be... Or how to read an actual  pattern... Or.. Well, you get what I mean.  However, I have started  Heaven and Earth's Map of Middle Earth  about two weeks ago and so far I think I'm doing an alright job. So far, I think I've done an alright job! But, it will be a long time in stitching!  First, I have maybe a fourth of the needed threads.  Maybe.  Might be less that that.  And on my budget, I'll only be able to buy a few threads a month (shipping can be a biotch, and there is no Michael's or JoAnns or anything like that where I live.  Yay for small town living... :'( ), and this thing is over thirty pages long.

So, I was searching through my cupboards this morning for something for breakfast when I found one lone little baggie of slivered almonds.  It seemed like it was calling out to me to do something that I've never done before. So, I toasted the little buggers up, and added vodka and water, and it is now sitting in my back room cupboard for the next three months to magically transform itself into almond extract! Yay! The little baggie was a half a cup of slivered almonds, so I modified the recipe that I found to reflect that. 1/2 cup almonds, toasted 1/4 cup vodka 1/4 cup filtered water Lightly shake the jar every 3-5 days for 3 weeks - 2 months. So I toasted them up, stuck them in a clean jar, added the vodka and water, shook it up, and it instantly clouded!  I think thats a good thing... it looks kinda like orgeat syrup (I used to be a barista) so I think its right.  And yes, I am using a high-end vodka.  I know it doesn't matter what quality is used, but I can&