WARNING!!
**IDLE RAMBLINGS TO FOLLOW **
One result of being Winterized (ie: house-bound by the snow/cold and in need of a good 'stuff' fix) is that you have Way-TOO-Much time on your hands doing mundane chores... thus resulting in Way-TOO-Much random thinking...A couple of weeks ago, DH had surgery which left him completely house-bound, and me 'playing' nurse/maid for a few days. (Friends & Family Note: Not to worry... Out-Patient, Hernia - he's doing fine!) During that time I did Way more cooking (GASP!) than this girl has done in a long time. Now, anyone that knows me, KNOWS that I Bake. I do not cook. I do not like to cook. I enjoy baking. I like to bake. I Bake.
One night I was making 'homemade' zita - I've done this on numerous occasions - no biggie - even I can handle this one. I decided to look up some actual recipes on the computer to see if there was anything 'special' I should be doing with it other than the usual burger, pasta sauce, noodles, cottage cheese, spices, to zip it up a little - after all, poor DH had been suffering through my cooking for several meals now... The first recipe I came to had a list of ingredients a mile long!?! Upon inspection, I realized that they weren't using jarred 'Pasta Sauce' - rather, making their own with a can of tomato sauce and a bunch of spice. Not. I was fine with my jar. Was my 'jar' really that much more 'semi-homemade' than their can? What exactly defines 'homemade'? or even 'handmade' ?
What are Your definitions? Is it the number of pans dirtied? (Mrs. M!!) The number of hours spent? How much planning, time and heart went into it? Personally, I think definitions are changing with every generation - I know mine are different from my mothers! This is what 'The official' has to say...
Definitions according to
Merriam-Webster:
Main Entry:
home·madePronunciation: \ˈhō(m)-ˈmād\
Function: adjective
1 : made in the home, on the premises, or by one's own efforts
2 : of domestic manufacture
Main Entry:
hand·madePronunciation: \ˈhan(d)-ˈmād\
Function: adjective
1: made by hand or by a hand process
As defined by ETSY:
All items listed in the handmade Categories must be made by the Etsy seller;
Well that really narrows it down, now doesn't it? I guess we could all just go with 'Sandra Lee' and consider it Semi-homemade... hmphh!Last Fall, DH passed the LEED Certification exam. If I am understanding it correctly (don't quote me!), LEED is an international system that governs the life-cycle of buildings (from concept to demolition) and their green 'foot print'. DH is a structural designer with a group of Architects/Engineers. How LEED effects them, is that in their designs they are allowed 'X' number of points for various categories (ie: Sustainable sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, etc...) - kind of a Weight Watchers Point system of sorts. Maybe a 'Homemade' points system is needed!. ... -1 pt.- I didn't make the mozzarella from scratch.... +1 pt. - shredding the cheese by hand ... 0 pt.- I didn't grow the tomatoes in my garden from seeds that I had saved from the previous season...+ 1/2 pt - recycling the glass pasta sauce jar, 1 pt for chopping up fresh onions, oh, + 3 pt - using all dried herbs from last years garden, and +1 bonus point for using meat that we KNOW is chemical free (purchased from our friend who's a 'hobby farmer').
Oh my gosh... I need a good garage sale - Soon.. PLEASE!!
(Valentine Hankie Photos are just 'filler' for lack of 'homemade/handmade' photos!)
It all started simple enough... .jpg)
Soon, the finds where amassing .jpg)
Our short escape to Paradise Island in The Bahamas for a quick 'SUNSHINE FIXX' was wonderful!! 
J. Jill cardigan, vintage red cashmere cardigan, vintage Pendleton pullover, Old Navy pullover, New York & Co., NWT GAP turtlenecks, New 'old church lady knit' cap in chocolate tweed w/ pom-pom - (all for less than 10 bucks!) ... AND...
( I am so proud of myself, I came home, laundered my finds, and promptly sorted T.W.O. large bags from my closet for donation!!).jpg)
VERA (2010 #4)
...and HAPPY V-DAY to all of You!!
(DH is a die-hard Steelers fan, so 'technically' I am not favoring either team, but this tray 'just happened' to be the right size for transporting the cookies to the party we will be going to, and I have some great memories from a trip with a group of friends - Cat's Meow?!...) 
(2010 VERA #2)
(as you all recall, this IS a STEELERS wreath!)
What are Your definitions? Is it the number of pans dirtied? (Mrs. M!!) The number of hours spent? How much planning, time and heart went into it? Personally, I think definitions are changing with every generation - I know mine are different from my mothers! This is what 'The official' has to say...
