Monday, September 27, 2010

i know what i want for my birthday

I want this.
Could I make it? Maybe. or something similar, that gave the same impression, but was less complicated. frankly i think you need an industrial machine to do some of those seams.
Absolutely stunning.

Friday, September 24, 2010

garden finds

Rummaging around in my garden the other day I found a few ripe tomatillos. This is the 3rd year we've had them, and the first year of any actually ripening. They came back from last year- most likely because I am a lazy gardener and left everything in the garden over winter. Clearly the seeds were incubated enough from the plant material to come back. I also found a tomato. Who knew?
We also had lettuce come back, and of course pumpkins of some sort.
Everything seems slow to mature this year, i hope we have some full size pumpkins by Halloween- assuming it doesn't freeze too hard. [Last year i planted giant pumpkins, only to end up with yellow squash.]
I had not really realized that leaving the plant debris would be enough for seeds to sprout in the spring. Denver- while it is fairly dry in the winter, does get quite cold at times. Last year our first big freeze was the second weekend of October, where it hit 17 F.
I recently visited a picking/ homesteading garden with my mother [you can read about it on her blog], in Boulder, where I learned that the owner overwinters her Zinnias by covering them with leaves every fall.

I'm hoping for some of these big flat red lovelies

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Autumn!

It's finally here!!
Summer is nice and all, but i dislike the never ending heat.

Autumn means warm days with cool nights. shirts to sweaters, sun to snow and beautiful beautiful leaves.
For me there is this kind of energy around autumn, its like, anything can happen and all sorts of wonderful things do happen. This is the best part of the year- what i look forward to most.

mittens, apple cider, halloween, pretty trees, pumpkins, tea, cool air, bonfires, comfort food, sweaters, etc.

what do you love about fall?


Tuesday, September 21, 2010

cabin

We had a lovely trip.
the aspens are starting to change in the high country, the nights are cool and the days are sunny and breezy.

I believe we have started a new tradition. Campfire Curry. No one is skilled enough to actually cook it over the fire, but it was a perfect, round the fire dinner.

Apparently it is also hunting season, as shots were heard while hiking.

i don't have any really great stories, but we had a good time, the weather was beautiful and that is all i can ask for.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Cabin Weekend!

Cabin Weekend!
it's been 2 years, i cant wait!

from the last time we were there:


Thursday, September 16, 2010

peach ice cream

I got some peaches from my neighbor recently. A big ol box. First i made a couple pies and then i but some in a jar with some rum and then i thought i would can some and make ice cream.

Being lazy, as i am, the peaches sat for a couple days and by the time i went to do some canning they were rotten. Well, not all of them, about enough for a pie or two batches of ice cream.



I stumbled upon this recipe the other day and decided to give it a try.

from what i can tell from licking the spoon, it turned out pretty good. Even though i forgot the vanilla.

Monday, September 13, 2010

the result

For those of you waiting with baited breath, I chose the fancier and cheaper Morgen Monroe.

maybe I'll paint the case.

Monday, September 06, 2010

sold a roll top desk and a pair of roller skates to buy a banjo.

For several moths i have been taking banjo lessons. Actually for the last couple i haven't, but have been practicing at home.
I have been renting an instrument, the deal was, the rental fees from the first 6 months become a store credit towards purchase of an instrument, after that they just go into the void of rental fees.
I've reached my 6 month mark, and I'm still interested in learning. really learning, how to play.
Its an instrument that i like, and my chance to have a musical ability beyond the simplest one note song i learned on the recorder in 3rd grade.It has become clear that it would be in my best interest to invest in a really good beginner/ intermediate banjo, rather than a cheap one.also i have been renting a nice one. so you know. hard to go back now.
So. i sold my roll top desk, and my roller skates to buy a banjo.
Option 1.
I've been renting the Deering Goodtime II. it's easy to tune and the sound is good. but its plain. and who ever designed the head was an idiot.



But I've been researching painting it. I've heard that painting can change the sound, but by how much i don't know. A number of months ago i fell in love with the Sara Ryan painted Creston guitars.What if i added similar style designs on the back and head? [i do know of people who have taken the whole thing apart to refinish it, but i don't want to do that.]



Option 2.
The Morgan Monroe MNB-1W
I've looked at numerous pics of this banjo and it is very red and apparently there is quite a bit of gold- rather than nickle color on it.
i like the mother of pearl inlay. overall it is much prettier.

Thursday, September 02, 2010

the catchiest video on the internets this week

the catchiest video on the internets this week

OO, OO, OOOOOOOO