Making Tea Tree Lip Balm

Derek makes this lip balm a few times each year.  It is a pleasant-scented, smooth balm with a pleasing bite for chapped lips.

Ingredients:
2 tsp (.3 oz) refined beeswax
3 tsp (.45 oz) sweet almond or castor oil
3 tsp (.45 oz) cocoa butter
.05 ox lanolin
10-15 drops Vitamin E oiil
10-15 drops Tea Tree Oil

Instructions:
Melt beeswax and cocoa butter in a double boiler.  Add all other ingredients and melt.  Stir thoroughly and pour into containers.  We prefer tin containers that fit flat into our pockets, and reuse the same ones repeatedly.

Moroccan Chickpea Soup

To make the coulis:

Ingredients

¼ cup roasted red pepper

¼ cup plain yogurt

1 tsp olive oil

1 tsp red wine vinegar

¼ tsp honey

Salt & ground pepper to taste

·    Combine all ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth and creamy.  Set aside.

To make the soup:

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil

2 cups carrots, diced

1 large onion, chopped

1 red pepper, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp ground cumin

2 15-ounce cans chickpeas, drained and rinced, or 2 cups dried chickpeas (see note below)

3 cups chicken broth

Juice from 1 large lemon

1 tbsp fresh thyme, minced

½ tsp freshly ground pepper

¼ tsp ground turmeric

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

¼ cup fresh parsley

·    Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat.  Add the carrots, onion, bell pepper and garlic.

·    Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 6 minutes.

·    Add the cumin & stir for 30 seconds.

·    Pureé the chickpeas, 1 cup of the broth, and the lemon juice in a food processor until smooth.

·     Stir the pureéd mixture into the soup, then add the remaining 2 cups of stock and all the other ingredients, except the parsley, thyme and garnishes.

·    Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil.

·    Reduce the heat; cover and simmer until the carrots are tender, about 10 minutes.

·    Serve, and top with the coulis, parsley, thyme and cracked pepper.

A note about chickpeas:

If you are using dried chickpeas for this soup, place 2 cups chickpeas in bowl & cover with 4 cups water.  Cover with cloth and let soak overnight.  Drain water.  Place chickpeas in Dutch oven & add fresh water.  Cook over medium heat for 2 hours, until soft and skins separate.  Drain.

Hemp Gardening Bag

I knitted several of these durable gardening bags.  They make great presents since they're quick and simple.  I used recycled hemp for mine.

Here is the pattern, provided by Sharon Maher:

yarns required

• whatever you have on hand

also

• pair of 4.0 knitting needles
• pair of 8.0 knitting needles
• wool needle
• embellishment, if desired (Sharon used and old bell and I used a found, rusty metal circle)

let's begin

• using 4.0mm needles, cast on 40 stitches
• the following 2 rows make up a pattern knows as 'linen stitch'

Row 1. (K1, yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise, yarn back) repeat to end of row
Did you slip the last stitch of the row???  I know it feels strange, but you are doing the right thing here!
Row 2. (P1, yarn back, slip 1 purlwise, yarn forward)
Did you slip the last stitch of the row again???  Good work!

Repeat these two rows 5 more times
You should have worked 12 rows in total.

• change to 8.0mm needles

Row 1.  K to end
Row 2.  K2tog to end
Now you have only 20 stitches on the needles.
Row 3.  KFB every stitch
There should be 40 stitches again.
Row 4.  P to end
Repeat these 4 rows until work measures 50cm (finish with a 4th row)
Yes...it seems very long, but this is the front and back of the bag.

• change back to 4.0mm needles
• Work in linen stitchfor the same number of rows as you did at the beginning (should be 12 rows
• Cast off knitwise
• Fold in half and sew together the side seams
• Make a twisted rope handle of the desired length, and attach to the inside of the bag
• Embellish!  Sharon Maher attached a bell to a strand of jute, and sewed it to the back of the bag...it drapes over the front and acts as a simple closure.  I used a rusty metal circle.

Blueberry Banana Scones

These blueberry banana scones are healthy, filling and scrumptious.  I like to throw one in my pack on trail runs to give myself a boost of energy.

Ingredients:

1.5 cups Hard Red flour (or some other wholesome flour)

1 cup oats

1/3 cups sweetener (I use honey)

1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter

1 large (farm fresh) egg

1/2 cup yogurt
1 banana
1 cup blueberries

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.  Have ready a large ungreased baking sheet.
• Whisk together all dry ingredients.
• Drop in butter, cut with pastry blender, tossing the pieces with the flour mixture to coat & separate.  The butter should not melt or form a paste.
• Whisk together egg and yogurt (and honey if using that for sweetener).
• Add banana & mash with a fork.
• Add wet mixture into dry ingredients and mix with wooden spoon until the dry ingredients are moistened.
• Add blueberries just before turning mixture over the last 1-2 times.
• Gather dough into a ball and knead it gently.
• Transfer to a lightly floured surface and pat the dough into a 3" x 10" roll, approximately 3/4" thick.
• Cut into 8 to 12 wedges an dplace 1/2" apart on baking sheet.
• Bake until tops are golden brown, about 12-15 minutes.
• Let cool on rack and serve warm.

These scones taste delicious served with pear butter.

Making Scouring Pads

My brother gave us scouring pads for a homemade Christmas present.  Simple but brilliant.

Materials Needed:

Recycled mesh produce bags

Fishing line

Needle

Instructions:

Layer 2 mesh produce bags, and fold into 2"x3" squares.  Sew around the sides with fishing line, weaving in and out from both sides.  Trim the edges.

Tofu Fries with Peanut Sauce

Ingredients:

1 package (15.5 oz) firm tofu, pressed & drained

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce

1/4 cup vegetable oil

For the sauce:
1 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup coconut milk cream (skimmed off the top of the milk)
1 small clove garlic, diced
1/2 cup flavorful broth (soy sauce mixed with water will also do)
2 Tbsp lemon juice

To make the peanut sauce:

Combine peanut butter, coconut, and garlic to pan & heat over medium heat until thickens.  Stir constantly so as not to burn.  Still stirring, slowly add broth until the sauce is smooth.  Add more broth as needed.  Stir in lemon juice and set aside.

To make the tofu fries:

Cut tofu into 1/4 inch strips.  Combine soy sauce & Worcestershire Sauce in a large bowl.  Marinate tofu in sauce.  Let sit for 30 minutes (or longer).  Heat oil in wok or deep pan over medium heat.  Add tofu and marinade.  Fry tofu on each side until brown.  Remove from pan and let drain.  Serve immediately.

Planting with Egg Cartons

It's time to start planting even though it's still snowing intermittently outside. The snowpack is steadily retreating, brown spots expanding outward.  Unfortunately, our community does not recycle plastic planter pots, so we need to be somewhat resourceful to prevent piles of plastic waste.  Once my tomatoes and peppers have outgrown their egg cartons, I'll move them into recycled tea canisters.




from Trueadventuresinmoneyhacking.blogspot.com

 

A Square of Squares

9" square
Materials: Size 7 needles & your yard of choice to fit needles

Stitch Abbreviation:
RT (Right Twist)
K2 tog.  Do not drop off, then knit the first st letting both sts drop off needle.

Pattern:
Row 1. Cast on 46 sts.
Row 2. (K1, P1) across.
Row 3. K1, (P1, K1) 5 times, P9, K1, (P1, K1) 3 times, P9, (K1, P1) across.
Row 4. P1, (K1, P1) 5 times, RT 4 times, (K1, P1) 4 times, RT 4 times, K1, (P1, K1) across.
Row 5. K1 (P1, K1) 5 times, P9, K1, (P1, K1) 3 times, P9, (K1, P1) across.
Row 6. (P1, K1) 6 times, RT 3 times, K2, (P1, K1) 4 times, RT 3 times, K2, (P1, K1) across.
Rows 7-12.  Repeat rows 3-6 once, then repeat rows 3 and 4 once more.
Row 13. K1, P1, K1, P9, «K1, (P1, K1) 3 times, P9; repeat from «once more, K1, P1.
Row 14. P1, K1, P1, RT 4 times, «(K1, P1) 4 times, RT 4 times, repeat from «once more, K1, P1, K1.
Row 15. K1, P1, K1, P9, «K1, (P1, K1) 3 times, P9: repat from «once more, K1, P1.
Row 16. (P1, K1) 2 times, RT 3 times, K2, «(P1, K1) 4 times, RT 3 times, K2; repeat from «once more, P1, K1.
Rows 17-22. Repeat rows 13-16 once, then repeat rows 13 and 14 once more.
Rows 23-62. Repeat rows 3-22 twice.
Row 63. (K1, P1) across.
Row 64. (P1, K1) across.
Bind off.

Adapted from a pattern created by Linda Luder.

Skulls

Georgia O'Keeffe was one of my favorite painters.  I am drawn to her skull series.  As I walk looking for bones, I imagine that I am Georgia, anticipating my next piece.  At least I am able to add to my growing bone collection.

Rabbits Born Today

One of our does gave birth today to a litter of 6.  Here are "proud" mother and babies.  It's a bit early in the season so we'll have to watch and see how they do.

Lemon Chicken Soup with Pesto Dumplings

A group of 4 families gather over soup every Tuesday night, rotating homes each week.  This is our 4th year.  The rules: bring a bottle of wine or container.  Stay to feast and drink or take soup home in your container for yourself and family.  No strings attached.  We generally all stay to mingle and enjoy the warm meal.

Tonight's delicious soup was made by Keri Miles.

Lemon Chicken Soup with Pesto Dumplings

Soup:

12 cups soup stock

Sauté in separate pan, then add to soup:
1 onion (chopped)
1 clove garlic (pressed)
4 whole carrots (sliced)

4 cups cooked chicken

½ cup olive oil

½ cup lemon juice

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

2 cups green peas

Dumplings:

2 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons honey
2 tablespoons cold butter
1 cup buttermilk

1 egg (from Keri's coop)

4 tablespoons pesto (approx: 1 clove garlic, 1 cup chopped basil, 1 tablespoon parmesan, ½ tsp olive oil)

·  Mix all ingredients – dumpling dough will be a little sticky.

·  Roll out onto lightly floured surface, about ¼ inch thick, cut into strips (or make little dumpling balls if you prefer).

·  Drop into simmering soup and cook for about 5-8 minutes.  Dumplings will float when they’re done.

River Rock Mosaics

Metal rings from old wine barrels made perfect frames for these walkway mosaics.  The mosaics were created using collected river rocks, including 2 in the shape of hearts.

Calzones

Calzone Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
• 1 1/4 cup warm water
• 2 1/2 cups Bluebird Grain Farms flour
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons dried oregano
• Pepper to taste
• Variety of vegetables/meat for filling (approximately 3 cups)
• Tomato sauce or pesto optional
• Cheese of choice
• Semolina flour or corn starch

To Make the Dough

• In a small boal, dissolve the yeast in warm water.  Let stand until creamy, about 5 minutes.
• In a large bowl, combine flour, olive oil, salt, oregano and pepper.  Add the yeast mixture and stir to combine.  Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until it's no longer sticky and a stiff ball of dough has formed.
• Place ball of dough into a large bowl, cover and let rise until doubled in volume.

To Make the Calzones

• Grate cheese, chop vegetables/meat and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Oil large cookie sheet & sprinkle with Semolina flour or corn starch.
• Split dough into 4 balls.  Form dough into rounds and roll out into large, flat circles.
• Cover 1/2 the crust with toppings.
• Fold crust over and press closed with fork.
• Drizzle olive oil over top of calzones.  Place in oven and cook for approximately 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Wasp Nest

Nature walks turn up the most interesting items to add to art projects.  From leaf rubbings, nature collages and stick structures to leaf mobiles, rock mosaics and wreaths, there is always a bounty of uncovered treasure waiting to be discovered.

With the first signs of spring, we search for fallen wasp nests, antlers to make door handles, hooks, or to cut into buttons.  We look for knotty sticks washed up on river banks.

It's almost time to collect cottonwood buds for this year's salve.

Art With Rocks

If I had the brain to be a Geologist, I probably would have jumped at the opportunity.  Instead, I scour the banks of the river for unique rocks to incorporate in my art.

Making Pasta

Making Pasta In 10 Steps

1.

To make one pound of pasta, you will need 2 cups of unbleached flour, 3 large eggs, and a 1/2 teaspoon of salt.  Place the flour on a table in a mound and form a well in the center.  Place the eggs and salt into the well.  Mix the eggs together with a fork without disturbing the flour.

2.
Using a fork, gently mix the flour into the egg a little at a time.

3.

Once you have mixed all of the flour together with the egg, use your fingertips to thoroughly blend the mixture together.

4.

Use your hands to form a ball. If the dough seems to dry, add a little more egg mixture. If the mixture is too wet and sticks to your fingers, rub your hands with flour and form the dough into a ball.

5.

Knead the pasta.  Continue this until the dough is smooth.

6.

Cut the dough into 3 equal sections. Form each section into a ball. Cover the dough balls with a towel and let sit for 15 minutes.

7.

Flatten one of the dough balls with the palm of your hand until it's 1/2 an inch thick. With the slot of the pasta machine on its widest setting, turn the handle while feeding the dough into the slot. Gently hold the flattened dough as it comes out of the pasta machine, but don't pull.

8.

Turn the slot down to the next smallest setting and pass the dough through the slot. Continue to do this, making the slot one knotch smaller each time.  Your sheet of dough will grow longer. Hold the dough gently as it passes through the pasta machine so that it doesn't tear.  Continue passing the dough through the machine until it's 1/16th of an inch thick.

9.

Feed the dough into the cutting blades. Hold your hand under the center of the cut dough to pick it all up in one bunch.

10.

Hang the pasta on a dowel (the back of a chair, hanger or clothing rack are fine alternatives) immediately after it has bee cut.  The pasta can be used immediately or will keep up to one week.

Leftover Yarn

I like to knit squares with leftover yarn when I'm in between projects.  Squares knitted with cotton yarn make excellent wash cloths.  Squares of wool can be sewn together to make funky collage-style blankets.  Hemp squares can be sewn into placemats.  They also give me a great opportunity to practice a new pattern.

Live in art.

Recycled Windows

Straight or rounded edges, multiple panes, chipped paint, tinted lead glass, a recycled turn-of-the century window is a piece of art on its own.

Recycled Windows from Earthwise Salvage

We incorporated recycled windows in our home and garden.  There are so many other ways for them to be used.  My favorite is as a greenhouse.

Greenhouse from Robomargo.com

Frame for picture, painting, sign, etc.
Greenhouse
Table top
Small door to cabinet or storage space
Paint blackboard paint & use as a chalk board
Glue rows of recycled 1/2 corks  & use as a bulletin board
Hanging pot rack
Visual divider for a physcial space yet still allows light to pass through
Simple art

Earthwise Building Salvage in south Seattle is a fabulous place to pick up recycled windows.  I love to peruse their aisles and picture how to turn reclaimed pieces into objects of art.

 

Rustic Decor

There is something about rust that I find appealing in home decor.  I am drawn to clean, modern lines contradicted by rough, aged edges.  Placing new next to old draws the eye to the unique qualities of the old.

A simple idea:

We used old, rusted galvanized pipe for our towel racks and curtain rods, and my mother wove a large curtain so that I have the option to close off my art studio.

Lighting

When building our home, our decisions were based primarily on cost and footprint.  Our goal was to build something that fit our family's needs, keep the cost low, maintain a simple (yet unique) design, and work harmoniously with our surrounding environment.

We used a lot of reclaimed wood throughout our home, as well as recycled metal.  Since lighting can be exceedingly expensive, that is one area where we tried to cut costs without compromising artistic details.  We came up with an affordable alternative.  For the lighting over our dining room table, we constructed a frame out of reclaimed wood and metal.  We ran an outlet strip down the center to plug bulbs directly into.  It hangs from the ceiling with lines of cable.

The Pantry

One of my favorite views inside any house: the pantry.  I painted an old door to spruce ours up from the outside.  The inside doesn't need much besides the bounty of dried and canned food.

Making Yogurt

My favorite breakfast is a bowl of homemade yogurt and granola.  I savor each bite knowing that I had a part in making it.

To make yogurt:

1. Pour 2 quarts of milk into a large pot.  Heat milk slowly over a low flame until milk starts to foam at surface, but do not boil.  Bring milk to about 180 degrees (F) and maintain this temperature for 5 minutes.
2. Allow milk to cool to 108-112 degrees (F).
3. Place 1-2 level teaspoons of a plain yogurt starter into an ovenproof container (although I use the lazy method with a yogurt maker).  Add 2 tablespoons of your warm milk to the container and mix to create a smooth paste.  Continue to add milk to the paste, stirring slowly until all the milk has been added.
4. Place container with lid in oven near pilot light.  If there is no pilot light, wrap the container in a thick towel and let stand for 8 hours.  The yogurt maker essentially does the same thing.

In this batch of yogurt, I added vanilla beans and 2/3 cup of sugar cane crystals.

Make Your Own Yogurt illustrates clearly what you'll need and takes you through the steps to make yogurt.

Child's Pullover

This is another pattern from Joelle Hoverson's Last-Minute Knitted Gifts.  When knitting this, with the limited time I had ahead of me, I decided to simplify the neckline, but added stripes to make up the difference.

Tanning Rabbit Hides

Materials Needed:
Cleaned rabbit hide
5 gallon bucket
Course or granulated salt (NOT iodized)
Battery acid (available at auto supply houses)*
Rubber gloves
Mild detergent
Mink oil

Directions:

1. After rinsing cleaned hide thoroughly in cold water, squeeze (do not wring) the hide of all excess water
2. Pour 2 gallons of room-temperature water into bucket
3. Add 1Lb of salt (approx. 1 3/4 cups)
4. Add 4 ounces (1/2 cup) battery acid (wear rubber gloves)
5. Allow salt to dissolve, add pelt & stir
6. Let sit for 48 hours, stirring twice daily
7. After 2 days, squeeze excess brine from skin (save solution!)
8. Flesh the pelt (peel fatty tissue to expose leather)
9. Rinse in cool water, squeeze out the excess liquid
10. Add same amount of salt/acid as previously used to the reserved brine
11. Place pelt in liquid & stir
12. Let sit for 7 days, stirring twice daily
13. Remove pelt from brine & squeeze out excess pickle
14. Pour out any remaining liquid (away from animals)
15. Wash pelt with mild detergent
16. Rinse in lukewarm water, & squeeze out liquid
17. Hang pelt in shade to dry
18. Optional: when pelt is barely damp, toss it in electric dryer for 30 minutes which makes fur easier to work with
19. Break the skin by stretching leather.  Pull the skin of your damp hide in all directions, working with small areas at a time
20. Once hide is completely broken, massage oil into leather

* The tanning recipe can be substituted with 1 cup course, non-iodized salt & 1 cup aluminum sulfate.  In our remote area, I was not able to obtain the aluminum sulfate, so have used the recipe above.

La Petite Maison

Dormant.  Silent.  Calm.  Warm.  Cozy.  Solitary, but not alone.  Hush.  Still.  Shadows.  Peaceful.  Serene.  Whispering.  Prodding.  Fluttering.  Embracing.  Shifting.  Uplifting.  Birth.  Playful.  Opening.  Awaken.  Inhale.  Air.  Breath.  Breeze.  Light.  Morning.  Sun.  Exhale.  Smile.  Take flight.  Simple.

Natural Rock Knobs

Materials needed:
A variety of relatively flat rocks
Drill press
1/4" masonry drill bit
Recycled corks
Knife (preferably a bread knife)
Hand drill w/ 1/4" bit
2" scrapbook screw posts

Drill a hole into center of rock.  Note: it can be tricky holding the rock in place while adding pressure to drill the hole, and the rock must be submerged in water.  Measure distance between rock & cupboard.  Using knife, cut corks to size to fit between each rock & the cupboard.  Rock, cork & cupboard should total 2".  Drill hole through corners of cupboard.  Fit rock and cork onto screw post, and insert into cupboard.  Use screw backing to attach to cupboard.