Thursday, October 30, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Time for Soup and Knitting
Snap, one day it's 70 and that toasty end of summer weather, the air is warm and smells baked, the light shifts to the south...and then suddenly the air chills. Then the rains come and the air smells like fall. The leaves are just turning, it fees late, mid-October.
The pumpkins are finishing their orangification in the yard. The tomatoes have all been harvested to ripen indoors in paper bags before the frost takes them. I'm roasting squash for soup and baked goods and making roasts and drinking hot coca.
The sweaters are out of storage and the tank tops are in their place. The extra comforter is out and the pilot is lit on the heater. All these little seasonal preparations. I am quite enjoying them this year.
It's been a Long time since I could enjoy a fall. I think I enjoyed the first one in Portland due to novelty, but the next few succumbed to the adjusting to the higher latitude and dealing with seasonal depression. Last fall, we just want to forget last fall. This fall? Marvelous.
Summer finished up in a flurry of work. Work has been a bit life consuming lately but not in a bad way. I am finally settling into a comfortable rhythm and can get back to projects and hobbies and such.
Like my sister, (but not in a copy cat way!)I did refinish a table, the one in my kitchen with the horrible varnish that would stick to anything you placed on it and discolor if you put anything wet or hot on it. So I sanded it off and oiled it with linseed and now it doesn't stick and I can put wet and HOT things on it and it does no harm. It's useful! amazing!
Recently in the kitchen, we have enjoyed butternut squash curried soup, pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin spice cake (both gluten free) roast beef and potatoes, and tomato sauces from the garden.
The carpets have been cleaned, the kitchen cabinet has changed from green to veneer, soon windows will be sealed.
Finding a way to keep the carpets clean with wet bikes around is being worked out. Rain gear dries on a rack by the heater.
My hair is short again, I have new shearling slippers to keep my feet warm and I've been thrifting for winter clothes that actually fit that I don't swim in. Sweaters and long sleeved shirts. I scored a bright red Land's End rain slicker that I plan to sew some reflective tape onto, for winter commuting. This will be the first winter I attempt to bike and not drive to work through.
It's time to start knitting for Christmas gifts.
Pics below from earlier this summer.
The pumpkins are finishing their orangification in the yard. The tomatoes have all been harvested to ripen indoors in paper bags before the frost takes them. I'm roasting squash for soup and baked goods and making roasts and drinking hot coca.
The sweaters are out of storage and the tank tops are in their place. The extra comforter is out and the pilot is lit on the heater. All these little seasonal preparations. I am quite enjoying them this year.
It's been a Long time since I could enjoy a fall. I think I enjoyed the first one in Portland due to novelty, but the next few succumbed to the adjusting to the higher latitude and dealing with seasonal depression. Last fall, we just want to forget last fall. This fall? Marvelous.
Summer finished up in a flurry of work. Work has been a bit life consuming lately but not in a bad way. I am finally settling into a comfortable rhythm and can get back to projects and hobbies and such.
Like my sister, (but not in a copy cat way!)I did refinish a table, the one in my kitchen with the horrible varnish that would stick to anything you placed on it and discolor if you put anything wet or hot on it. So I sanded it off and oiled it with linseed and now it doesn't stick and I can put wet and HOT things on it and it does no harm. It's useful! amazing!
Recently in the kitchen, we have enjoyed butternut squash curried soup, pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin spice cake (both gluten free) roast beef and potatoes, and tomato sauces from the garden.
The carpets have been cleaned, the kitchen cabinet has changed from green to veneer, soon windows will be sealed.
Finding a way to keep the carpets clean with wet bikes around is being worked out. Rain gear dries on a rack by the heater.
My hair is short again, I have new shearling slippers to keep my feet warm and I've been thrifting for winter clothes that actually fit that I don't swim in. Sweaters and long sleeved shirts. I scored a bright red Land's End rain slicker that I plan to sew some reflective tape onto, for winter commuting. This will be the first winter I attempt to bike and not drive to work through.
It's time to start knitting for Christmas gifts.
Pics below from earlier this summer.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Summer's End
July... August... where does the time go? I have no real answer to that but it's gone. It's been a nice mellow fairly uneventful summer. And that's good. Work is a lot of work these days so down time is valued for being just that...time to wind down. B and I have done a lot of cool stuff round the city. I can't remember what all really... but most recently, the bike camping-fiasco-adventure-educational experience, and Last Thursday, which was last night, and I think it could be fun to do again when I am less tired and not hungry, which i was and just amplifies my social anxiety. Tomorrow we head of by train to Spokane ( I love saying train to Spokane, all rhymey even if it means pronouncing Spokane wrong)for Labour day weekend with his fam. (Update, I didn;t get this posted before I left so, it was a fun Labor day!!)
Other eventful things going on:
Squirrels eat my tomatoes. Ungrateful if adorable beasts. We feed them all kinds of goodies (otherwise they eat the bird seed.)and they repay us thus? my tomatoes! arrrrg.
the garden is awesome this summer, lots of good food has come out of it and still is. Thwarted somewhat by cabbage moths and aphids but it could be worse.
Knitting a baby blanket for a co worker, it's coming along at decent speed. the child was born on my birthday!
My 31st birthday was quiet and unassuming and relaxing. Awesome.
I have un-photographed craft things I have done to my 'office space' in my room. curtins for the shelves and decoupage on the desk front. someday i will have pics. I have been lazy.
B and I are on the hunt for a new living situation, a nice place in a quiet neighborhood near where we spend most of our time, closer to work, for me, off a busy street etc. I hope we find a place similar to what I have now, but east of the river and not as uh, derelict. =) It's charming in it's derelictness though. Mostly I would miss having a yard to garden in, but that is hard to come by. I'll settle for a bathtub. =) ( Which is funny because I gave up a bathtub for the garden when I moved here.) Anyways wish us luck, we're not in a hurry, but sometime before the rains come, due to B's mold sensitivity. I'm thinking by November.
Other eventful things going on:
Squirrels eat my tomatoes. Ungrateful if adorable beasts. We feed them all kinds of goodies (otherwise they eat the bird seed.)and they repay us thus? my tomatoes! arrrrg.
the garden is awesome this summer, lots of good food has come out of it and still is. Thwarted somewhat by cabbage moths and aphids but it could be worse.
Knitting a baby blanket for a co worker, it's coming along at decent speed. the child was born on my birthday!
My 31st birthday was quiet and unassuming and relaxing. Awesome.
I have un-photographed craft things I have done to my 'office space' in my room. curtins for the shelves and decoupage on the desk front. someday i will have pics. I have been lazy.
B and I are on the hunt for a new living situation, a nice place in a quiet neighborhood near where we spend most of our time, closer to work, for me, off a busy street etc. I hope we find a place similar to what I have now, but east of the river and not as uh, derelict. =) It's charming in it's derelictness though. Mostly I would miss having a yard to garden in, but that is hard to come by. I'll settle for a bathtub. =) ( Which is funny because I gave up a bathtub for the garden when I moved here.) Anyways wish us luck, we're not in a hurry, but sometime before the rains come, due to B's mold sensitivity. I'm thinking by November.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
June
What a month.
Two weddings and pedalpalooza AND full time work. Non stop action.
The garden has grown. the rain has given way to muggy warm humidity. California is sharing it's smoke with us creating a muggy haze over the city. And I can finally rest a bit. Woo!
Recap of June. Two best friends married, cake made, pictures taken. Check out Photographia for some photo updates. A few here but, more there.
Lots of Bike-fun bike rides bike fairs and uhh biking. I don't have pictures but you can recap a lot of what was going on around town at this site: Bike Portland Pedalpalooza 2008
We participated in the Sunday Parkways, Wild Plant Lore, kickoff parade, MCBF, WNBR, Bike Kiss-in, Rocky Butte picnic ride...ugh I can't remember if there was more, that was a lot to fit in with the weddings for me.
Today I staked my tomatoes again, I have some small baby tomatoes!
Cleaned and organized after two weeks of relative chaos. Annnnnnd abbreviated some thrift store corduroy finds into pedal pushers, and I am very happy to have shorts for summer. Corduroy shorts to boot. I love corduroy.
Two weddings and pedalpalooza AND full time work. Non stop action.
The garden has grown. the rain has given way to muggy warm humidity. California is sharing it's smoke with us creating a muggy haze over the city. And I can finally rest a bit. Woo!
Recap of June. Two best friends married, cake made, pictures taken. Check out Photographia for some photo updates. A few here but, more there.
Lots of Bike-fun bike rides bike fairs and uhh biking. I don't have pictures but you can recap a lot of what was going on around town at this site: Bike Portland Pedalpalooza 2008
We participated in the Sunday Parkways, Wild Plant Lore, kickoff parade, MCBF, WNBR, Bike Kiss-in, Rocky Butte picnic ride...ugh I can't remember if there was more, that was a lot to fit in with the weddings for me.
Today I staked my tomatoes again, I have some small baby tomatoes!
Cleaned and organized after two weeks of relative chaos. Annnnnnd abbreviated some thrift store corduroy finds into pedal pushers, and I am very happy to have shorts for summer. Corduroy shorts to boot. I love corduroy.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Yeah, Yeah, so it's been awhile..
I've been busy.
But, there's lots to show for it.
There is more of my yard devoted to growing food this year. I hope it works out well, things are getting expensive. I got a late start, but our sunny weather is getting a late start too so I am not sure how behind my garden really is. The first round of seeds planted are all up and that was less than two weeks ago they got sown so... good, good!
I have peas, some beans, gourds, beets, lettuces, cukes, celery, spinach, kale, radish, tomato, squash, pumpkin, chard, carrot, brussel sprouts, cabbage and one compost bin sprouted potato, it's a very happy potato I might add. I might add starts over the course of the summer depending on what does well and what doesn't and how much room I have then things really start to take off. I really want to try a winter crop this year.
Our temporary third roommate, B, built D and I a firepit, further cementing his usefulness while he is here. It's fantastic. although I do not recommended burning the vines of the Traveler's Joy clematis vines, they are as noxious burning as they are as weeds. Ugh my hate of them is further rooted.
I've been cooking a LOT more lately now that I get a food deliver every other week of organic mostly local veggies. I am forced to use the food up before the next shipment comes in.
This has led to some great cooking. Mashed cauliflower is AMAZING with roasted chicken broth and butter ( I need to make more broth, I am out from the last chicken.) It's good that this is good because I still have another head of cauliflower to use before next week. I've also been delving into new kinds of cooking, avoiding various foods, mostly gluten, and realising you can eat very, very well, without flour, pasta bread, etc. I am attempting some gluten free baking and that's completely new and exciting, as learning new things is infinitely fascinating to me. Sometime this week, coconut muffins with coconut flour and agave syrup instead of flour and sugar.
June is going to be a busy month with wedding cake baking for a friend and all kinds of bike fun events that I might be riding along on. Two best friends getting married (which means chicken-cat-house sitting for one and cake baking/ photographer duties for the other.)
So I'm still here, doin' the garden thing and the food thing and hopefully soon, the jam thing! And of course the photo thing, new pics in Photographia.
I have more I'd love to discuss about politics and food and economics, but I'm in a good mood right now. I am very tempted to sell my car though. OMG.
But, there's lots to show for it.
There is more of my yard devoted to growing food this year. I hope it works out well, things are getting expensive. I got a late start, but our sunny weather is getting a late start too so I am not sure how behind my garden really is. The first round of seeds planted are all up and that was less than two weeks ago they got sown so... good, good!
I have peas, some beans, gourds, beets, lettuces, cukes, celery, spinach, kale, radish, tomato, squash, pumpkin, chard, carrot, brussel sprouts, cabbage and one compost bin sprouted potato, it's a very happy potato I might add. I might add starts over the course of the summer depending on what does well and what doesn't and how much room I have then things really start to take off. I really want to try a winter crop this year.
Our temporary third roommate, B, built D and I a firepit, further cementing his usefulness while he is here. It's fantastic. although I do not recommended burning the vines of the Traveler's Joy clematis vines, they are as noxious burning as they are as weeds. Ugh my hate of them is further rooted.
I've been cooking a LOT more lately now that I get a food deliver every other week of organic mostly local veggies. I am forced to use the food up before the next shipment comes in.
This has led to some great cooking. Mashed cauliflower is AMAZING with roasted chicken broth and butter ( I need to make more broth, I am out from the last chicken.) It's good that this is good because I still have another head of cauliflower to use before next week. I've also been delving into new kinds of cooking, avoiding various foods, mostly gluten, and realising you can eat very, very well, without flour, pasta bread, etc. I am attempting some gluten free baking and that's completely new and exciting, as learning new things is infinitely fascinating to me. Sometime this week, coconut muffins with coconut flour and agave syrup instead of flour and sugar.
June is going to be a busy month with wedding cake baking for a friend and all kinds of bike fun events that I might be riding along on. Two best friends getting married (which means chicken-cat-house sitting for one and cake baking/ photographer duties for the other.)
So I'm still here, doin' the garden thing and the food thing and hopefully soon, the jam thing! And of course the photo thing, new pics in Photographia.
I have more I'd love to discuss about politics and food and economics, but I'm in a good mood right now. I am very tempted to sell my car though. OMG.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Locavorian
My new kick, ok, it's not new, but I have been trying harder to do this lately, is buying foods that have been produced close to where I live. Right now I prefer things from Oregon and Southern Washington, but will still buy foods from California and Mexico. I cannot give up my avocados! It's been much more fun to grocery shop, it's like a scavenger hunt. But it means I get to eat much more seasonal, MUCH fresher foods and I enjoy them more. Meats and dairy have to be local and pasture raised and hormone free, and believe me..animal products TASTE eleventyhundred times better this way, not to mention how much better it is for you.
Today was the first Saturday Farmers Market of the season. And since I have been playing hooky from work for the last two days, for very good reason, I decided today I needed to get out of the house and go get me some tomato plants and fresh veggies. I came away with much more.
I got raw milk sharp cheddar from Rouge Creamery, whole cream top milk in a quart bottle from Noris Dairy and fresh peewee eggs from Square Peg Farm. I forgot the name of the stands where I got my veggies (kale, rabe, a shallot and some taters) and my loverly baby tomato plants. More on them later!
Peewee eggs are eggs smaller than a standard small egg. We are used to getting Large AA eggs from the store, but really the peewees are just about the right size for me. I was recently introduced to duck eggs and they are fantastic. But I made the mistake of making two eggs for breakfast like I usually do, and Duck eggs are huuuuge. One duck eggs is too much egg for me. But they were still good. =)
But needless to say my lunch was fantastic. The cheddar is so divinely cheddery and those egg yolks are the deep orangey yellow of a happy healthy chicken. And the milk is a treat. I do not drink a lot of milk, that pint will last me about 2 weeks. I can then take the bottle in for reuse by the dairy, since they sell the milk at my co-op.
I haven;t been eating well the last few days and so, I nearly cleaned my plate. A few potatoes escaped the fork. Also on that plate is some yummy locally made bread(the whole wheat is local and organic) local yellow beats and Russian banana potatoes, and a sneaky green pepper from my home state.
Yum.
I get much more enjoyment out of my food knowing where it came from and how it was grown or raised and meeting the people who make the food possible.
My tomatoes!
I picked 6 starts, Cherokee purple, legend, stupice, black brandywine, Amish paste and copia. All heirloom varieties and all have different qualities. I am looking forward to some fantastic tomatoes this year. And having learned from last year about compost and tomatoes, I moved the compost bin for my new tomato bed so these puppies are going to have lots of sun and lots of good nutrients and I am going to have LOTS OF 'MATERS!
I also got some oregano to plant. I just need basil, but it's too early for basil.
Yay tomato sauce! I am going to can so much sauce this summer!
Today was the first Saturday Farmers Market of the season. And since I have been playing hooky from work for the last two days, for very good reason, I decided today I needed to get out of the house and go get me some tomato plants and fresh veggies. I came away with much more.
I got raw milk sharp cheddar from Rouge Creamery, whole cream top milk in a quart bottle from Noris Dairy and fresh peewee eggs from Square Peg Farm. I forgot the name of the stands where I got my veggies (kale, rabe, a shallot and some taters) and my loverly baby tomato plants. More on them later!
Peewee eggs are eggs smaller than a standard small egg. We are used to getting Large AA eggs from the store, but really the peewees are just about the right size for me. I was recently introduced to duck eggs and they are fantastic. But I made the mistake of making two eggs for breakfast like I usually do, and Duck eggs are huuuuge. One duck eggs is too much egg for me. But they were still good. =)
But needless to say my lunch was fantastic. The cheddar is so divinely cheddery and those egg yolks are the deep orangey yellow of a happy healthy chicken. And the milk is a treat. I do not drink a lot of milk, that pint will last me about 2 weeks. I can then take the bottle in for reuse by the dairy, since they sell the milk at my co-op.
I haven;t been eating well the last few days and so, I nearly cleaned my plate. A few potatoes escaped the fork. Also on that plate is some yummy locally made bread(the whole wheat is local and organic) local yellow beats and Russian banana potatoes, and a sneaky green pepper from my home state.
Yum.
I get much more enjoyment out of my food knowing where it came from and how it was grown or raised and meeting the people who make the food possible.
My tomatoes!
I picked 6 starts, Cherokee purple, legend, stupice, black brandywine, Amish paste and copia. All heirloom varieties and all have different qualities. I am looking forward to some fantastic tomatoes this year. And having learned from last year about compost and tomatoes, I moved the compost bin for my new tomato bed so these puppies are going to have lots of sun and lots of good nutrients and I am going to have LOTS OF 'MATERS!
I also got some oregano to plant. I just need basil, but it's too early for basil.
Yay tomato sauce! I am going to can so much sauce this summer!
Forgotton craft projects!
Hah I did this stuff last month, or even in February, really...
This dress:
Became this dress(sorry the pic isn;t great, it's very hard to take a pic of yourself in a dress, ugh.)
It was way too big to being with and then I lost a lot of weight. SO I refashioned it. However, I want to take it apart and resew it better. I think the seems are a little sloppy, and I think I really understand why interfacing is a very useful thing to use now! But it's cute. Refashioning old clothing that no longer fits/work for me into new clothing is a kind of reuse project I need to get better at. Well, I just need to get better at sewing!
I also made this belt out of a bike inner tube that I got a hole in. I think interfacing would have been useful here too. It's reversible and the red and white fabric was a skirt i found at goodwill for the fabric, so aside from the buckle it's entirely recycled.
I have a few other small crafty things I have been doing but they are a secret project. I may post about them later when they are no longer seeecret.
This dress:
Became this dress(sorry the pic isn;t great, it's very hard to take a pic of yourself in a dress, ugh.)
It was way too big to being with and then I lost a lot of weight. SO I refashioned it. However, I want to take it apart and resew it better. I think the seems are a little sloppy, and I think I really understand why interfacing is a very useful thing to use now! But it's cute. Refashioning old clothing that no longer fits/work for me into new clothing is a kind of reuse project I need to get better at. Well, I just need to get better at sewing!
I also made this belt out of a bike inner tube that I got a hole in. I think interfacing would have been useful here too. It's reversible and the red and white fabric was a skirt i found at goodwill for the fabric, so aside from the buckle it's entirely recycled.
I have a few other small crafty things I have been doing but they are a secret project. I may post about them later when they are no longer seeecret.
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