this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by Soulemama.

drawstring bags for camping gear

Inspired by this post, I decided to make some simple drawstring bags to hold our camping dishes.



Using leftover fabric from an earlier project, I made five bags.



After the bags were complete, I experimented with fabric pens and fancy stitches to make labels for the bags.



I finished them today with double drawstrings for easy opening and closing.



I hope they help make packing go smoothly and help keep the campsite more organized.

quilt-as-you-go placemats

Inspired by this Moda Bake Shop post, I decided to try two new sewing techniques: quilt-as-you-go, and making and sewing bias tape.

Raspberries & Blueberries!

I had a great time this weekend with my husband and our good friend Marion. We went back to Biringer Farm Saturday, but this time for raspberries.


Back at home, Marion and I made raspberry jam.


Unlike my earlier attempt at strawberry jam, this time I carefully followed instructions, and the jam firmed up nicely.


Aren't these itty jars cute?


At Bryant Blueberry Farm, we each headed out with a bucket.






Besides feeding them to the goats, and snacking on them ourselves, I'm not sure yet what I'll do with the blueberries. Maybe some blueberry muffins?





What do you like to make with fresh blueberries?

beautiful western Washington

The first three photos are from Asahel Curtis. The last three are from the Cedar River Watershed. All photos were taken on July 22nd.

this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by Soulemama.

New & Improved Donuts

Does one need an excuse to make donuts? I don't think so.



But if I did need an excuse, this new-to-me (thanks Keitha!) donut cutter is it.



It makes perfectly shaped donuts and donut-holes. Before this, I used two separate biscuit cutters that weren't really the right size. The donut part ended up very skinny, and the donut-hole part was huge. Now they are perfect.



The second donut-making experience went smoothly this past Saturday. My hubby and I set up the kitchen so that I can fry the donuts, and he is right next to me ready to glaze them.



We've decided to strain the used frying oil and reuse it the next time we make donuts. My husband has clearly labeled that oil so we don't confuse it with others.



He cracks me up.



Yum.

It's Science!

I'm taking a summer class for science teachers at the local university. One of my assignments involves setting up an experiment and then doing a display board (kind of like a science fair project). The idea is that at the end of the class I walk away with a display board that I can use as an example for my students.

We did ten experiments throughout the course of the 4-week class, which we were supposed to choose from for our board. I really liked the baggie garden experiment, but I didn't want to use the class data. I wanted to do the experiment again, this time changing a different variable.



I'm interested in the idea of using untreated gray-water to water plants, as a way of conserving energy (since all of our waste-water is currently treated so that it meets potable water standards). So I poked around my house and decided to try three different cleaners that I currently use in the bathroom: Seventh Generation multi-surface concentrated cleaner, Method Le Scrub gently abrasive cleaner, and Target's Up&Up all-purpose cleaner with bleach.





I don't have lab-glassware at home to measure and mix the water and cleaner, so I improvised. See Mom, those shot-glasses come in handy!

I set up my baggie gardens with lentil seeds (from my kitchen) and tried to keep all variables the same, except for the added cleaner. Then I attached them to the wall using push-pins, and I'll check on them daily.



We'll see in a couple of days how my garden grows. Which cleaner do you think will allow the most seeds to germinate?

Low Tide at Golden Gardens