Time Marches On

As I sit, sipping hot coffee in my living room, while listening to the morning thunderstorm outside, I can't help to wonder at the past year and a half.

This past weekend was spent celebrating and graduating from Culinary School. I have sadly neglected this blog that was intended to document all the stories from school and my new job, but alas, they are all cataloged in my memory now. Hopefully, I can remember them for stories later but we'll see.

Right now, the questions are thick. What do I do now? Where do we go from here?

When I stop to think about where the next few years could take me, I have no idea. I can't even imagine really, because the last couple have been so far beyond my imagination.

Saturday was a day to remember. When I arrived at the location for the graduation ceremony, I got into the line for my hat and medallion, etc. I had noticed my friend Felicia, who was standing with me, was wearing red tassels. When I went through the line, I was handed silver tassels. I realized that this was proof of my hard work. Silver was to signify Magna Cum Laude. I had completely forgotten that I had done so well in school. I can put that on my resume as well.

I felt so honored and proud, as I stood with the other students that were graduating. Listening to the speakers and turning around now and then to waive and smile at my family members and dear friends who came to support me. They took up more than a whole row.

I am not positive what the future holds, but I have been so honored, blessed and loved by my family that in some ways, it doesn't matter. They would support me no matter what!

So Thanks go out to my loving parents, Richard and Alison Green.
My dear sisters, Elisabeth, Rebekah, Rachel and Deborah.
My Big Brother David and his awesome wife Julia, who threw me the best graduation pool party ever, margarita machine and all!
All my precious nephews and nieces, Thomas, Kyle, Calvin, Owen, Samuel, Claire, Megan and Naomi.
My friends who, as I said Saturday, kept me insane or sane, (as needed!) Amy, Melinda and Krista.
My co-workers, Sarah Bell, Victor, Carol Ann, Chris, who keep work so much more than just work.
My Chefs Bradford and J, who have taught me so much in one year.

So Thanks.

Things to Figure out on the Double Quick

• Getting to bed by 9:30.


• Learning 100+ herbs, spices, beans and obscure kitchen tool names by sight and in some cases scent.


• Make time to knit soon. Maybe right now...?

Sadly, I'm not knitting as much as I would like to this week. I have, however, been making a bit of a name for myself in class, by whipping out my yarn and needles whenever I find a second. I think I need to knit myself a stool pad because the chairs are so ridiculous hard and uncomfortable.

Class was really fun today. It's only Day Two and Chef Mendoza let us get out cutting boards and our chef's knife. We spent a good 30 minutes or so practicing the batonet cut. It's once step up from the julienne cut. It measures 2 inches long by 1/4" square. Here are how my batonet's looked today (2nd day of cutting):

I have a lot of improvement to make but hopefully I'm getting a little better.

Things are going great though, and the early mornings aren't getting to me yet. Give this another week or two and I'll be all over the 5am alarm clock going off.

Bisous,

Chef Sarah

Happy New Year!

Ergh. Quite a few days late. But Oh well! New Years was really great. Kellie Hill and Amy Hart came over Monday evening to get ready and we headed out to two excellent parties.

We partied like it was 1999. Tuesday morning we layed about my apartment all day eating good food and watching movies. Then I taught them both how to knit. WOOT! I think I'll start a group knitting meeting that will be called: KA : Knitter's Anonymous. "Hi, My name is Sarah and I've been knitting for 7 weeks."

I also managed to get a bit more of Caleb's scarf done:

It's beginning to look quite nice.

I got Deb to send me a photo of her lovely self wearing the scarf I sent for Christmas:

And Krista wearing the ruffle scarf that I made her!

And of course, by now, I've got 2 new projects started, but 4 more in a bag waiting to begin...So much for my "only have 2 going at a time idea..." So Voila, my first Mitten...and a scarf to match. Highly Top Secret project...aka...I'm not telling who this is for. :)

OH and LAST, but most certainly not least!! I started Culinary Art School yesterday. It was marvelous and I already got to start a set of flashcards!!!

INTRODUCING CHEF SARAH

Love and kisses to All!

Chef Sarah

P.S. I suppose the picture I really need is one in my chef's uniform whilst knitting...Hmmm....

Tales of a Knitting Chef

I find it rather odd that I sit here in my comfy chair, the one that is old and ratty and used to belong to my father's mother Quendrid, and subsequently creating a brand spanking new blog.

It is 2:16 pm, New Year's Eve 2007. I'm rather pleased with the way things seem to be heading at the moment, and despite rather ridiculous disappointments, I am overwhelmed with the fact that God is in His rightful place, directing my life where it is meant to go. While I might be surprised and confused at the details of my life, I know that He is not.

The year 2008 is holding some very exciting changes for me, actually I am rather shocked that I'm not freaked out one bit. Culinary School begins in exactly one week. January 7, 2008. On that same day, my employer is moving our offices from his home to a professional building, where I will continue to work part-time. Most likely I will keep this place until I finish school. Unless the opportunity to run a cafe in good old Denton comes together...but at the minute, it's really too early to tell what will happen there.

So here I am, about to begin culinary school, thoroughly addicted to knitting and ready to start a new blog to go with my new life changes. As far as my new addiction, I have knitted 3 complete pieces so far, 2 scarves and a hat. I hope to finish the ribbed 2-color scarf I began soon (tomorrow?!) and begin a hat for myself. Finally something that I will keep!

This past weekend was really crazy. Mostly, I was shocked at how beautifully the catering I planned for Megan Pinney's wedding (now Mrs Embry) came together. I was overwhelmed at all everyone had to say to me about the whole thing. It was all perfect.

Of course, it seems (as Bridget Jones pointed out) that when one part of your life is going great, another part must fall apart. I won't go into that here, but I am also looking forward to the way that God will once again take care of me in those falling apart moments, he already has and continues to do so, and can I just say thanks be for girlfriends.

I am off to clean up the aftermath of Saturday's events and tidy things up for the pre-pre-party at my house tonight.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Love, The Knitting Chef Sarah