bean&noodle

peachy goodness

My neighbor offered these up this morning as a trade for some of our plums. Deal! So now I will be making both plummy and peachy things during my staycation. Speaking of which, I have now compiled a list of things I'd like to do next week, but may just opt for numbers 8 & 12.

plum rich

These may be small, but each little gem packs a lot of plummy goodness. This plum tree only fruits when it wants to, but when it does it's crazy how much fruit there is. Steve thought it was funny when I said the tree was heavy with fruit... I guess that did sound a bit goofy. I seriously need to lay down tarps and just shake the branches...the plopping is a funny sound. I don't feel the need to harvest all the fruit so will leave some for the birds. I think a plum galette would be great to try, though I may try using almond flour since it should be rustic.

Next week I am on a staycation which I plan to do a little printing, cooking, gardening, knitting, and a whole lotta nothing if I can manage. 

Hellooooo Friday

It's one of those warm afternoons that make being inside nose pressed to a monitor PAINFUL. Luckily we have plenty of those days here. I want to be home throwing the ball to Callie and smelling my tomato leaves. I'm already dreaming of tomato pie, dilly beans, and quick pickle cucumbers.

Had a great visit with my little sister last weekend.

We spent some time at Universal Studios costume department

Ate lunch at Forage a Silverlake restaurant that buys food from local farms and a network of backyard gardens and fruit trees, which they call their home growers circle

Huevos Divorciados. Funny name for a dish that would make anyone love the person who made it for them even more.

This is Happy, no really, his name is Happy.

We couldn't decide... so we didn't.

Left to Right: lemon chiffon meringue cake, flourless chocolate tort, strawberry rhubarb galette.

Visited this yarn store for more Koigu spent a little time knitting up some more of these squares for my Barn Raiser Quilt.

aaaand had Jessie model my recently finished Nefertem... lovely on her, but it's all mine.

Red, White & Blueberry

Well, the counters are finished and most everything is back in place. I love them even more than I thought I would. Here are some before & after shots

... one of my favorite new things is the ginormous cast iron sink that was freecycled from the dumpster of one of Steve's jobsites. She cleaned up beautifully and is adorned with a swanky new faucet.

aah, the bluberries? This morning we called a couple friends to join us at Chickamaw Farm, a pick your own organic bluberry farm about 13 miles down the road in McDade. Today was the first day of bluberry picking season at Chickimaw Farm.The McCranie family grows blueberries, blackberries and strawberries, raises grassfed beef and also catfish. If you're in the Austin area load up and drive out the Chickamaw Farm to pick some berries and enjoy some early summer sunshine. Bring cash.

The following is from an email received from the fine folks at Chickamaw Farm.

Howdy,  Well it's that time o' the year again:  BERRY PICKING SEASON.  Surprisingly we have a fine crop in spite of the weather.  Season will open this coming Monday (Labor Day) and will proceed until the berries are picked out.  Of course we are open on the weekends especially but if you need a special "other time" please telephone.  The gate usually open on Saturday mornings when the first "pickers" arrive.  Please bring a hat and closed toe shoes are better.  We provide good well water and shade if you need or want it.  Remember it is dreadful out there mid day so choose your time of arrival to suit your comfort.  If you do not mind please bring something to put the berries in to take home.  We provide paper sacks but stable sided containers are safer for travel.  Anyhow, if you like blueberries be assured there's excellent ones out this way.  Guaranteed!  Should there be any problem or difficulty on the way out or should there be any question please telephone 512.567.3456.

This just may become a Memorial Day tradition. I'm pretty sure blueberry cobbler is for dessert tonight.

Finally...ready to play (ahem, learn)

It took more than a couple trips to the hardware store for me to realize I needed to mix my own stain color.

 The inside of the resonator is glossy cherry red. I'm sure noone will ever notice it, but I know...and it makes me happy.

After staining I stamped these blossoms with silver ink on the back. I had to do this twice, because I rushed the first coat of poly finish and smeared the ink. Smile to frown in 2 seconds... what am I, five?  Imaptience rarely pays off.

ready to play learn

This is a boring photo of my boring bumpy grey laminate kitchen countertops. Yawn.

Here is the new laminate color to be installed soon. I know, it's hard to believe I want laminate countertops when my husband makes concrete countertops, but this is much more in harmony with the warm, cozy retro vibe of my kitchen. He's done so much of the heavy lifting on our home remodeling projects, that it's nice to actually pay a professional when you can. The wisdom of choosing battles wiesly comes with age.

 

Praise the Lard!

I am testing biscuit recipes for work... and I have been schooled in biscuit making. Yesterdays sad biscuits pale in comparison to todays much taller and flakier results. The difference, in my humble opinion, was the lard. Sugar too.

Callie liked them too.

but wanted more than one.

Repurposed

I just remembered I forgot to show this. My lovely handsome assistant Noodle is holding 3 store bought scarves. While these scarves are perfectly nice, they were a gift long before I knit. "Nuff said.

Abracadabra... with slight of hand and perhaps a little stitching...

Tada! A new woolie throw. Awesome. I have been meaning to do this little project for 2 years. Whew!

 

I effing love my husband

Seriously... I have been knocked on my arse by cedar fever and an almost impossible publishing schedule at work. This leaves little or no time to ready my home for the 40 people I've invited to drop by on Christmas. So my sweet husband hired a friend who needs a bit of extra dough to clean our home today. It's such a great feeling to know I'll go home to a clean house....wow I could get used tho this. So now my Christmas Eve day is wide open... what to do, what to do....

Anticipation (box with a smile)

  
This morning I was faced with a decision... wash my hair or do the dishes? Some mornings are just like that. For any of you that have worked in the magazine publishing industry, fall deadlines are tough, really tough. So today, because I feel frazzled, exhausted and perhaps a little bitchy... I started to plan a vacation for next month to Northern California. Ah, I feel better already.
And to put a cherry on top of my day, I tracked my amazon order and it has been delivered. Few things make me happier than knowing there is a box from Amazon waiting on my front porch. A smile on the box! I mean how freaking amazing is that logo... really? I ordered  a couple new knitting books. It's been a long time since I curled up with a book full of yarn porn. Cannot wait. I read knitting and cookbooks like novels, don't you?

Remember when I didn't like to knit socks? Well, I knew I couldn't force things... it had to happen organically. I am almost done with my third pair of these I'm a clog girl, and these are perfect for wearing with my Danskos. Since I now love knitting socks I treated myself to this book and because the holidays are approaching, this book.

I need to get a new pair started so I have something to knit on the bus this weekend.... more about that tomorrow.

Oh, and my decision? My hair is up in two goofy side buns, but I do get to go home to a clean kitchen.

Look! Up in the Tree! It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's a Shower!

This latest addition to our outdoor world should prove to be very welcome after gardening or mowing in 100º+ weather.