sshhhhhhh..... silent sundays: life before bangs

you're my obsession: project runway

Project Runway is my favorite show. The 11th season has just ended on Thursday with the win of another Northwest designer!!! Yay, Michelle Lesniak Franklin. 

Michelle rockin' out her designs for Fashion Week!

Michelle totally deserved this win, she was the only one with a clear vision for her show and had all of her looks finished before arriving to Fashion Week.  She had it together which is what you need to be a designer that makes collections every season. Many people have the artistry and vision but can't get their shit together to show a cohesive and/or finished collection as we saw with poor Stanley & Patricia.

If you missed it you need to watch it! 

http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway/video/full-episodes

sshhhhhhh..... silent sundays: lime kiln lighthouse

you're my obsession: coffee

Coffee is my favorite ritual.  Morning, noon or night! It's not the caffeine I crave, I love the flavors. I love the way it makes me slow down to make it(or wait for someone to make it) and drink it (even on the run! You may remember I have a coffee cup holder on my bike.). 

It might be because people of the Northwest are rumored to have coffee flowing through their veins or maybe it's because we all love the comfort it brings on our ever famous rainy days. Either way we totally obsess over the perfect cup of coffee and I stand there, in the rain, with my NW peeps. I love coffee!

Claire's sweater says it all! 

Enjoying a post lunch latte and cookie at Market Chef.

My favorite coffee shops on the island are Crows Nest, Market Chef for amazingly crafted lattes and Cafe Demeter for the best brewed coffee (and pastries)!

Anywhere near Portland OR?! Stumptown baby! Even in my old stomping grounds of Phoenix there is coffee purveyors to drive across town for (which I did!). Lux draws the trendy hipsters of downtown PHX but don't let 'em deter you walk right past them and order something with their house made whipped cream and insist on a slathering of it 'cuz it's magical!!! 

I plan on updating this post one day with my coffee shop picks of London! 

Stumptown Coffee Portland OR.

Morning coffee brewed in my Eva Solo coffee maker

My favorite ways to brew at home:

My Eva Solo "french press" 

Ikea Radig espresso percolator

Hahaha... Caf-Fiend Coffee for Junkies!

fisherman's hat update

A few month's ago I had given up on giving my first knitted hat to whom I had made it for because I felt kinda creepy actually.  Well, I got over my dorky self.  I folded it nicely, tied a bow around it and put it in my purse for the next time I bumped into it's intended owner, Che.  After a few weeks of carrying it around the proper moment arose on Monday! I about had a heart attack while giving it to him. I was so nervous I really don't recall what I said. He said thank you and wow and turned red. 

So sad news is.. that Babo the ugly doll needs a new hat. Good news is... I saw Che wearing the hat I made for him yesterday!!!

And it fit!!!

sad, sad chicky rancher day

Our darling little black hen Elphaba has departed us. It is a sad, sad day for Peggy and I.  We tried, probably too late, to nurse here via an eye dropper to get liquids into her.  She will be missed. Elphie was a sweet sweet little hen.

Sweet little Elphie being her chicken-y self. 

Rest in peace Elphaba.

sshhhhhhh..... silent sundays: instagramed adorable calming critters

nervous mama hen...

I'm a nervous lil' mama hen!  I've had horrible nightmares about my flocks well being the last 2 nights. Despite my frantic subconscious the girls are doing well. Pooping up a stinky storm, I hope I can get used to that smell soon. 

I checked on them at least 5 times yesterday and the last time I found them all cozy inside the coop. The first night only two had found their way in, Fluevog & Elphaba, as Florence & Galinda huddled together outside all night. 

Galinda, Florence & Elphaba together on the floor.

Fluevog the dominate-chix in the box alone.

Got up early and schlepped myself out into the cold morning to give them their food bucket at about 7am. 

At about noon I found our first egg!

I wish I knew which gal layed it, either Galinda or Fluevog!

Then I checked in the rest of the coop through the side door & holy poodles!!! Florence has given us a green egg! 

Egg from our sweet lil' Florence! 

I guess I can stop worrying?! They're doing everything happy hens should do. 

chickens!!!

At 8:30 yesterday morning our new chicken coop was delivered! We commissioned a local carpenter to build it for us. I think it turned out adorable. We requested that it be made from as much reclaimed items as possible. He did an amazing job with our specifications the only non-reclaimed item is the wire screen for the chicken run.

Home Sweet Chicky Home!

Four laying boxes w/ easy access for getting eggs and cleaning.

The top is even ready for a garden roof to be planted!

My research from the library to become a modern Agrarian.

Once the coop was settled we, Peggy my partner in chicken crime and I, did a couple of finishing touches to get it hen fabulous before we picked up the girls from HorseShu Ranch. We put a dowel in for them to roost, added pulls to the easy access "poop" drawer that slides out from the house, & we fox/raccoon proofed around bottom of the whole coop so they can not dig their way in. 

At 5pm Peggy & I went across island to pick out our flock! We already had names decided upon so we looked for the bird to match each name. 

Peggy immediately knew the black chicken was Elphaba (from Wicked) & her BFF Galinda was decided when we saw her feathered "shoes".

This Florence she is an Araucana! She lays blue/green eggs!
She is named after Florence + The Machine

This is madame Fluevog! Named after my favorite shoe designer John Fluevog. She is a Silver Laced Wyandotte.

Checking out their new watering hole in the chicken run.

 Hopefully once the get cozy in their new home they will start laying us lots of eggs! Get ready for loads of chicken fun with Peggy & I! B-Gawkkkk!

candied orange peels

I'm all about using everything when it comes to cooking. So when I finally realized how easy it is to candy my citrus peels instead of chucking them into my compost, I ran out and bought organic oranges at the Co-op.  Boy, do I miss having fresh citrus off the tree since leaving Phoenix. 

Blanching the peels to get rid of the bitterness.

Rolled in Sugar and drying.

Got a few stored before I ate them all!

I found several different recipes on line for making these lil' treats. So, I co-mingled them all a wee bit and here is what I did:

Slice peels into 1/4" strips
Blanche 3x in skillet so they all have room
Simmer peels in mixture of sugar water till translucent:
1cup H2O/ 2-1/2 cups of sugar
Roll translucent peels in sugar and let dry for approx. 4hrs
Store what does not get eaten in a jar so you can behold the lovely yummies you've made! 
Oh! and save the simple syrup mixture you simmer the peels in!
It works great in cocktails and morning espresso.

P.S. you can do this with all citrus peels! I'm planning on trying limes next. Maybe even my Cutie's peels?! 

semi-silent monday: colors of easter

I've been having a horrible time lately with posting due to my craptacular internet connection. So, here is what was to post for Silent Sunday but was unable to. 

Hope your Easter was grand!