Dave's Killer Bread

If you have never tasted Dave's Killer Bread... I am so sorry. Nutty Seedy bread. My favorite way to use is breakfast- toast with peanut butter. My favorite DKB is Dave's Powerseed. bread. I never thought much about it. Until I saw a video telling Dave's story. Very moving.
The Story of Dave and his Killer Bread. Best bread you have ever tasted.

Empty Bowls and Full stomachs

Well I went to the Empty Bowls event at our community center, and Romeo got a new bowl! I had a great bowl of spicy Habanero Chili from the Elliot Bay Brewery, a local eatery that makes the best chili's and soups. And like I said, I got to keep the bowl, a handcrafted pottery dog bowl, that Romeo got to eat off of Friday night! The Event raised a whole lot of money for our two local food banks- over $8,000 for each food bank last year alone. I figure they did even better since I heard all 1150 bowls were gone, and a number of folks brought their bowls from last year or bypassed the ceramic bowl and had a paper one instead!

The City Car

From Spain, we have the newest entry into small electric urban vehicles - "The City Car", a car that folds itself up and turns around. Very Cool!

TEDx MANHATTAN: HOW TO CULTIVATE A LOGO

Found this on Green Roof Growers- Best information video on making SIP's I have seen! Enjoy and Grow~
TEDxManhattan: How to Cultivate a Logo from Sybil Dessau on Vimeo.

Links:
Slippery Slope Farm 
Inside Urban Green
Real Food Campaign

Empty Bowls 2012

What do the 909 Coffee & Wine, Ace Hardware, Angelo’s Ristorante, Azteca Restaurant, Archies Mexican Restaurant, B-Town Blog, Burien Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, Clay Art Center, CC’s Lounge, Day Star, Discover Burien Association, El Dorado West Retirement, Elliott Bay Brewery & Pub, Emerald Cove Catering, Fred Meyer, Grand Central Bakery, Highline Medical Center, Ivars Seafood Restaurant, Kayak Bar and Grill, La Costa Mexican Restaurant, Mark Restaurant & Bar, Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub, Normandy Park Senior Living, Osteria da Primo, Panera Bread Company, Puget Sound Skills Center, SideStreet Kitchen and Bar, Sterling Savings Bank, The Company, The Tin Room Bar & Grill, Waste Management, and the amazing Moshier Potters all have in common? Well they are this years generous sponsors of the Highline Empty Bowls fundraiser, on Friday, January 27th.

Really cool- You pay a $15 donation, you get a handcrafted artisan bowl, filled with soup, bread beverage and a dessert. All the proceeds go to the Highline and White Center Food Banks to help feed the hungry. So you  A) get a great lunch or supper and B) Get a great Artisam Bowl, and C) get to help  less fortunate brothers and sisters... that truly is a "HAT- TRICK"!!!
More info about the Highline Area Empty Bowls here
More info about empty bowls (national) here!

Re-Use for those Gift Cards

This one is a no-brainer! Ever been caught with no ice scraper and a icy winshield? Keep a couple of those gift cards or store reward cards (that you used the credit up) as scrapers in your Glove Box. They are slim enough to be flexible and sharp enough to scrape that Ice off your window! Doesn't work well with Ice caked cars due to ice storms!

Winter Soup

Cold Nights call for a warm inviting soup- but who has the time to make it? Here is an alternative to canned soups that is cheap, easy and filling;

Winter Soup:
1 Can (15 Oz.)organic pinto beans, drained
1 Can (15 Oz.) organic Black Beans, drained
1 can (15 Oz.) organic diced tomatoes
1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
1 teaspoon Tarragon
1 bay leaf Crushed
 pepper to taste
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon Olive oil

Mirepoix: 1 cup each:
 Diced celery
Diced Carrots
Diced onions

Place olive oil in pot- turn heat up to medium. When hot add the Mirepoix- Saute until translucent- Add the beans and tomatoes- If dry add small amount (1/2 cup) of stock or water add the chili powder, tarragon pepper and salt- bring to a simmer, add the bay leaf,, simmer for half an hour, remove bay leaf. Hint: put bay leaf in a tea infuser first for easy removal. Serve.

More Re-Use- Yard Art Division

 So you are driving down a road in a residential neighborhood and you see this on a parking strip along a sidewalk in front of a home. Call the HOA? No, take a pic. It was done by sculptors who live at this home for yard art!

 Here is what is inside of the cab of the bus. All in all it makes on cool and chic planter!

Behind the bus is a unique sail boat turned into a planter. These sculptors take container gardening to a higher level!

Starbucks Re-Use

 I know I kinda bitch now and then about Starbucks. But this new Starbucks store in Locate just south of the Museum of Flight, on East Marginal Way in Tukwila, WA has me rethinking my position. Made out of used shipping containers, it is a prime example of Re-Use. Unfortunately, it is drive- thru and walk up service only, so I could not get any interior shots, except the rest room, which I will omit, but very cool anyway. There is a nice outdoor seating area

Eat This!

Photo from Cascadian Edible Landscapes

See All you gotta do is complain. Last year after the Annual Seattle Flower and garden show, I made a comment on the questionaire that they sent me about the fact there where no displays of urban farming. Looks like they listened, or somebody had a great idea (probably the latter)- The folks at Cascadian Edible Landscapes came up with this design for an Urban garden that looks like it could be just what I was wishing for. It will be on display at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show, Feb 8th - Feb 12th 2012, at the Washington State Convention Center. Well worth the price of admission! I will probably go on February 10 if anyone wants to meet up let me know at robj98168@yahoo.com

Home Improvement Goals 2012

Every year I make a list of goals to accomplish for home and hearth. Last year was a loss, so some of these might seem familiar! DIY Goals for 2012
1- Finish the Garage- I have been putting this one off for awhile. The Idea is to finish the garage with walls and a ceiling, and some wall storage units. Hopefully for the future as I plan to make it my work space for retirement.
2- Build a new green house- or rather, build a more permanent green house space rather than the giant ziplock bag I have now. Already planned and ordered, have the perfect spot for it. And it should help winterize my bedroom windows as well!
3- Bike storage- I need a shed for my Bicycle(s) and Romeo’s trailer. This has been in the plans forever- Bought a pre-fab shed, but after reading the instructions almost gave me a seizure, I am going a bit simpler on design. And yes I will use material from shed kit to build this!
4- Enclose The porch: another long term goal. I think I am getting close to knowing what I need and want for it.
5- Remodel the Main Bathroom- Needs paint, a new toilet, new vanity. I need to get to the “as-Is” department at Ikea!
6- New cabinets in Kitchen- Slowly, but surely my Kitchen needs an upgrade. Found cabinets I like that won’t break the bank to badly.

LunchBots... Now in Bento Box Style!

I alway wanted a bento box, but knew that Beth "Fake plastic Fish" Terry would call for my hide if I ever bought one as they only seem to come in plastic and plastic laminated wood...
Until now... LunchBots annouced now in addition to Duo and singles, they come in Trio's And Quads. Four things in one LunchBot. In addition, they now sell thermal containers. And yes all in Stainless Steel if you desire! Bento Box with no plastic!

ReUsing chopsticks

Yahoo Green is now on Shine.com, and one of the first articles I found that perked my ears up was re-using Chopsticks. I do reuse my chopsticks and found some here that I already do and a buttload of others I want and need to do. I use them for stirring when I cook, I use them to hold my colander in my pasta kettle up when it drains and I use them to mark plant rows/squares and new starts. I like this lamp that is featured in the post...

Ms. Nash and company talk of Love

Niecy Nash is one of my favorite TV type people. Whether laughing at here on Reno 911, or watching her de-cluttering show "Clean Sweep" on style network, or as she "Dances with Stars", she always has a unique outlook on life. Here she talks about love with some kids...

Dog Is My Co-Pilot

I recently posted this on my facebook page; I personally think the world would be a better place if everyone could follow the simple lessons that dogs teach us.

If a dog was the teacher you would learn stuff like: 

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them; 

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride; 

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy; 

When it's in your best interest, practice obedience; 

Let others know when they've invaded your territory; 

Take naps; 

Stretch before rising; 

Run, romp, and play daily; 

Thrive on attention and let people touch you;

 Avoid biting when a simple growl will do; 

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass; 

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree; 

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body;

No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout...run right back and make friends; Delight in the simple joy of a long walk; 

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm; 

Stop when you have had enough; 

Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you're not; 

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it; 

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

 ♥ Love & Affection Always! ♥

How to give birth to a Movement!

"If The Lone Nut is the flint, The First Follower is the spark that starts the fire."
This was posted by a friend of mine on facebook. This is really great, illustrating how a movement is born. Well worth three minutes to watch!

Move Over Paula "Krispy Kreme" Deen

The Jumbaco!!!

Okay- Move over Paula Deen with your hamburger that uses Krispy Kreme Donuts for buns - Jack in the Box has come up with a great Idea for fatty food consumption...an idea, thought up by Jack Junior to put two tacos on a Jumbo Jack that apparentley in reality will never come to fruition as it was an advertising gimmick to get folks to buy the Jumbo Jack/Taco meal. Well, Jack Junior, I still think it is a good Idea.
HOW TO MAKE A "JUMBACO"
1 Jumbo Jack
2 Jack Tacos

Place one taco on plate, top with Jumbo Jack, place other taco on top. There you have a Jumbaco!

Dropping the F-Bomb Internationally

Never one to be shy about dropping an "F-Bomb" or two, when ever I took a language class, I used to be so saddened by the fact the instructors would not teach us how to cuss in those respective languages. In Junior High, Senorita Moore said No. In High School Frau Pauler said Nein. In college, Herr Hoem said Nei. I mean, really? Without this all important knowledge, how am I supposed to ever drive in a foreign country? Well thanks to Google Translater, I now can drop the F-bomb in any language I want.

Spanish: Vete a la mierda 

German: Fick dich 

Norwegian: faen ta deg 

Swedish: fan ta dig

Welsh: Ffyc chi 

Affrikaner: Fok jou 

Swahili: Fuck wewe

Scarf and hat Rack

I have a lot of scarves and winter hats. A lot. I hate a cold head. But I had no way of keeping them in my Coat Wardrobe (My living room doesn't have a closet) So I came up with this storage system- I took an old Ikea pot Lid Rack that I had been using as a magazine rack, put a hanger on it and hung it in the wardrobe. It holds all my scarves, and my winter hats. sorry about the crappy cell phone pics!

Christmas Light Tamer

Well since New Year's is over, and not wanting to have this chore ruin my 4th of July celebration, I took down the Christmas Lights. I had an old extension cord tamer sitting around gathering dust and put it to use wrapping the lights to store them for next year. A great re-use to keep those lights ready to go for next year!

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I am hoping and wishing that everyone has a great year in 2012. May all your wishes come true!