A Blank Canvas

We've ripped out the dead bushes and got the sprinklers working. Now the front hillside of the House on the Hill is just waiting for...lavender?...Olive trees?...Lovely autumn grasses?  What do you picture here?

Happy Halloween!

Image from here

Hope your night was SPOOKTACULAR!!!!

Big Hugs,

Kat

One more year

 Remember this?

Just found out we get to lease the House on the Hill for one more year. Can't wait to get out the shovel!
Big Hugs,
Kat

Sometimes we wonder...

Do the lights go off and on in an alternate universe when you press on the orange polka-dot on Mika-Moo's right flank?

We can only guess...

Big Hugs,

Kat

Progress, Part I

Seriously, back off with the shears, lady. We will eat your house.

Female human tenant with dull and ancient gardening shears: 1  --
Crazy Dr. Seuss bushes on side of house: nil.
(Okay, well, maybe 0.35 if you count the scratches on my legs and arms, the sneezing, and the, "Gaaah! Spider web! Spider web!" heeby-jeeby dance).
So much for the zen bonsai experience...more pics and story of yard pseudo-transformation to come...
Big Hugs,
Kat

Mountain Anniversary Weekend

So, a little time's gone by, but I want to share a few pics from our weekend in the mountains at the beginning of October.

Big Bear Lake is a special place for my husband and I.  It's where he proposed to me and we got married at The Inn at Fawnskin, which is a Bed and Breakfast across the lake from Big Bear city.

The gorgeous Inn

 Our stay for the weekend was wonderful--October in the mountains (sigh). We walked around the city and looked at the fall colors.

We rented bicycles and rode through a park on the North side of the Lake...

We talked about our dreams for the future...

window shopped, and ate lunch outside at the Peppercorn Grille.

For our Anniversary Dinner, we bought a couple of nice bottles of wine and got carry-out from our favorite Big Bear restaurant, The Himalayan...

Us with our buddies, Buddha and Ganesh...

And dined on our pumpkin-spice wedding cake-top, wrapped so carefully by my mom after our wedding (thanks Mom and Dad for getting it safely to our freezer!)...and oh, it was STILL heavenly...

Made by THIS incredible bakery

Being in the crisp mountain air with the beautiful fall colors and nature, my yummy, fuzzy sweater and my bestest bud was such a treat.  And our homecoming wasn't so bad, either...

Big hugs,

Kat

The Mean Reds

Sorry for the light posting lately, y'all.  Had a bit of the blues.
What do you do to lift yourself out of the "mean reds", as Holly Golightly called them?

Rainy Day

We don't get these much in Southern California, and you better believe I'm enjoying it after a rather crazy day at work. I'm sitting by the fireplace with knitting in hand, dog at feet, and, thanks to Jenna, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in my ears. More to come later on a lovely weekend spent in the mountains, but now? Now is for snugging into the corner of the couch with fuzzy socks and fuzzy friends...

To you and yours...happy October,

Big Hugs,

Kat

One year ago today...

 Litany
  by Billy Collins

You are the bread and the knife, The crystal goblet and the wine... -Jacques Crickillon You are the bread and the knife, the crystal goblet and the wine. You are the dew on the morning grass and the burning wheel of the sun. You are the white apron of the baker, and the marsh birds suddenly in flight

    

  

However, you are not the wind in the orchard,
the plums on the counter,
or the house of cards.
And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.
There is just no way that you are the pine-scented air.

    It is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,
    maybe even the pigeon on the general's head,
    but you are not even close
    to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.

 

 

  

Giddy

*AND there's even an article on taking care of sheep and goats. Heeee.

Weekend Homesteading Project #1

So this weekend I engaged in my first documented homesteading project. 

 Dunh-dunh-DUHNNNNN!!!!!!!

Aren't you proud of me??


Homemade laundry soap. Yes, yes, I know--you are, at this moment, in awe of the sheer homestead-er-ness of this adventure. 


Fresh out of laundry detergent (a very, very, very bad thing in this household), I decided to begin the process of embarking on our first little baby steps away from utter Apple-Mango-Tango-Gain-Scented-Targ--ay-Dependency.


First I researched recipes.  I was disappointed to find that most were liquid, which I thought might not be as easy to store.  And then I happened upon a very simple powder recipe here.


Now, calm down (I know you are waiting with bated breath for me to divulge my laundry soap secrets; because it's not, like, it's in a gazillion places on the internet and stuff).


So, honestly, to confess, I did wind up at Target.  But only to purchase this...

And this...































Okay, y'all.

So here's the secret only your grandma and the rest of the blogosphere knows about part:

You take one bar of Ivory soap and grate it.  

Note--I've read many recommendations since, that using a food processor is actually speedier and safer--as (and we're not naming names or anything), but someone *may* have grated a bit of her thumb during this whole experience and although she *may* have gotten a kiss to make it better from her hubby, she also *may* have realized only too late that the use of a food processor would also have probably created more uniform-sized-dissolvable granules (which *may* definitely appeal to that person's control-freak sensibilities). 
Now, since we're on the subject of using an item primarily created for the everyday processing of food (as name indicates, duh), to pulsate something that probably shouldn't be ingested by human or beastie, herein lies a conundrum.  MarkaLee asked me, "So, is it still safe to put food in there afterward?." "Idunno," I said. "The other bloggers who have done so still appear to be alive and posting." To which he replied, in a Pirates-of-the-Carribean voice, "Deeeaaaad Bloggers telllll noooo talezzzzz."

Yes. I told you we are nerds. Please do not try to ignore this fact.

And hey, how many countless kids had their little pie-holes washed out with Ivory soap, and still grew to be strong, healthy, upstanding denizens of society?

But I digress.

One bar of Ivory soap (grated or pulsated, your choice).
One cup of Arm and Hammer Washing Soda (and folks, be not confused by the little box you keep in your spice cabinet--this is WASHING SODA. Found in the LAUNDRY AISLE. Just sayin').
One cup of Borax.


Mix, pulsate or tie to a jack hammer (your choice).


And voila!  Homemade (almost) laundry soap.  
And it's thrifty, too, almost a full 20 cents less per load as you only use a Tablespoon for regular loads or 2 for really scrungy loads.


But.


I couldn't stop there.

Oooohhhhh-ho-ho no.


Me being me, I need something cute to keep it in.


So I took two pickle jars I had been saving, and some chalkboard paint.
I squared off a label-sized patch using tape and aluminum foil, took the jars out on the porch with my trusty-dusty drop canvas, and spray painted the patches and the lids to the jars using the chalkboard paint.

MarkaLee comment upon seeing this conglomeration when he arrived home from a long afternoon of teaching lessons, "We're trying to get aliens to land on our porch?  Sweeeeeet."

I re-applied paint to ensure even coverage and about two hours and one stick of chalk later, I had these babies:

Oh pickle jars, how I love thee....

But be not envious of these marvels... you too can easily possess Pottery-Barn-esque laundry jars on a dollar-store budget.  All it takes is a little paint, a serious craving for pickles and fearlessness in the face of the cheese grater-thingy/food processor.

And did the soap work?  Yes.  Clothes were bright, stains were lessened, although I may try Zote soap in the future as a comparison.  Overall rating, 8.5 out of 10 pitchforks.

So let me know if you try this--I'd love to hear about your ideas and experiences...

Happy Homesteading, my friends!
Big Hugs,
Kat

Behold...

The sexiest eggplant you ever did see...courtesy a gentleman-farmer and some kind folks at Saturday's Redlands Farmer's Market

Can Someone Tell me...

Okay, stupid question, but what is the DEAL with the spacing when inserting pictures and writing posts?

Plus, for your viewing pleasure: a random Smartass Squidley picture, complete with destroyed upholstery...

The sexy, "Come-hither & let me destroy your upholstery, Lounge Cat" look

Grape Expectations

Makes me want to channel Lucy

These grapes hang on our backyard arbor. How they've survived two prior careless tenants, broken sprinklers and my transitioning but still mostly black thumb is a mystery to us.  

The flavor of these grapes is really lovely--sweet and tangy all at once. I'm betting they would make a terrific homemade wine.  What do you think?  Should we endeavor to create our first bottle of Three Bags Full table wine?

Big Hugs,
Kat
P.S. -- Just for grins...

Blank Canvas

Our Garden-to-be*

We are still waiting to hear whether we get to rent this home for another year.  Meanwhile, this little corner of the back yard remains fallow and deliciously full of possibilities! Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Big Hugs,
Kat

Two Steps Forward...One Back

Dear Autumn,

What happened?  We were at a lovely, crisp, 72 Southern California degrees just last weekend...

You gave me hope...I gleefully dug out my sweaters and tights...I put up my Fall wreathes...

we were planning to do s'mores on Saturday night. 

But...all of a sudden, 

the air conditioner kicked back on...

WHAT HAPPENED?!!

Don't you know I'm a cold weather beastie?!  Don't you know the thought of winding my burnt orange mohair scarf  'round my neck and trotting off into the crisp air and falling leaves fills me with utter-spine-shuddering-if-I-were-a-puppy-I'd-widdle-on-the-floor happiness?  Seriously.  (Just more proof this girl is in the wrong part of this crazy state.)

So, our s'mores party never happened.

 The fire-pit was primed,

 

 the comfy chairs placed

and wood gathered--and then...

Air Conditioning.

Really Autumn. You can be SUCH a tease.

My Blue (but not suede) Shooz

Do you remember these baby blues?

These are my 'old skool' style New Balance 690s; the most comfortable running shoes I've owned in years. I've loved New Balance ever since I was training for marathons and logging double-digit weekly miles because of their comfort and durability. But I never thought I'd go 'retro' for running!


My husband recently started researching the benefits of 'barefoot running' and has been telling me about how the incidence of knee injuries attributed to running has skyrocketed over the last few decades, and that the latest studies hypothesize that this could be a direct result of mainstream shoe designs over the past 20-30 years forcing heel-strike rather than a more natural mid or fore-foot-fall.  When you look at the way animals run, and the way our legs are constructed, it kind of makes sense.  Anyhoo, since I didn't consider myself quite the Vibrams candidate yet, 

Vibrams--my husband has these--I just can't get past the toe thing yet...

 I decided to at least give the newer 'retro' flatter soles a go this time, and whoa, baby, what a difference!  Why did I ever switch in the first place?!


I have really high arches and laid off running much over three miles at a pop the past few years because my feet and knees typically creak and grind with every stride (well, that and I've become a little less athletically ambitious and my job, a little more demanding of my time and energies), but these puppies are so comfy, if my stamina and my muscles were still in shape enough to maintain it, I think I could probably trot along all day in them.  

And nothing (except maybe a little heavy bag work at the martial arts school) wipes away a tough day at work like a good long run...well, that and the nice glass of chardonnay after the hot shower.  

So, although I know runners all have different tootsies and preferences, I'm sharing mine today in hopes this post may help somebody find their next perfect pair!


Happy trotting friends!
Big Hugs,
-Kat

Look, Ma! I'm knittin'!

Look what I learned to do this weekend, y'all...

My good friend, Jennifer, came to visit this weekend and we had an absolute blast.  

Jen and I went to high school together and were later roomies at the University of Maryland.  We share a love for, among many things, Fall, beautiful music, cozy, 'lived-in' homes and furry friends.  

Jen and her husband, Charlie

Our weekend included going to a fun restaurant in Riverside and listening to some terrific jazz, walking around the beautiful Mission Inn, visiting downtown Redlands and buying treats from the wonderful Martha Green's Bakery, and heading up to Los Rios Rancho in Oak Glen for some delicious apple cider, beautiful scenery and of course, apple pie!

Mark and I had a great time with Jen (and Mika, of course, has added her to the list of "All-time-favorite belly scratchers...EVER").

Soon after Jen arrived, she pulled two beautiful skeins of kettle-dyed Merino wool from Uruguay out of her bag and told me she was going to teach me to knit.  I was giddy.  We purchased some lovely bamboo knitting needles for me and she patiently taught me the garter stitch. Two rows later, I was hooked.

Before she left to return home, Jen gave me another gift; she helped me to find a wonderful knitting shop nearby where I could go to ask questions, continue to learn and purchase beautiful yarns and patterns to feed my new creative outlet.  We looked on the internet and found the Redlands Yarn Company.  When we walked in, I was immediately at home.  The store is full of beautiful fibers--alpaca and sheep's wool--pretty felted and knitted items--and friendly folks.  The owner, Becky, and her lovely parents are really fun, helpful and down-to-earth.  I can definitely see myself spending some cold winter afternoons in this cozy shop.   

I confess that I always felt more interested in learning just how to care for sheep and spin and dye wool prior to this weekend. But now that I'm sitting here in the soft evening light, the dog at my feet, I find the repetition, the smooth wood and soft yarn in my hands comforting and strangely... right.

Thank you Jen, for a great weekend and for the creative inspiration.

 Big Hugs,

           Kat

Proof

Sid, aka, "Squidley the Destroyer", Lover of Shoes.

Bacchus, CKG, GOTW...

Hi all.  I apologize for the light posting.  As I said before, I've been nose to grindstone perhaps a little too much lately and my body is starting to let me know things are a little too far out of balance and off-kilter.  Time to slow down a little in my work life, take a little more time away from computers, and have a little more fun!

In the meantime, I'd like to introduce you to an important member of our family (I'm afraid I neglected to add him in my second post).  He is Bacchus, Chief Kitchen Gnome and Guardian of The Wine.

My grandpa painted him for me and gave him to me back in my early 20's and today, he sits on our kitchen counter by the wine rack (a place of homage in our household) and serves as our little Guardian of Wine. My hope is that as we move toward our homesteading dreams, perhaps one day he will be guarding our own bottles of Three Bags Full wine--and maybe even our own grandkids' favorite vintages. But until then, Bogle, Barefoot, 'Two-Buck Chuck' and treats from our Sunset Wine Club (which totally rocks, by the way) constitute his "flock".

Little Bacchus serves as more than just our CKG, though; he a constant reminder of my wonderful, creative, peaceful and lovely hearted Grandpa.  I do miss him and my wacky, fun Grandmother so much, but I smile and think fondly of them whenever I look at Bacchus' cute, worn, little visage.

I hope he makes you smile too...

Have a peaceful and happy evening everyone--

Big Hugs,

Kat