Robs World

TED - Roger Doiron - A Subversive Plot

2012-02-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

I love TED talks... I learn so much.

Like Roger Doiron, founding Director of Kitchen Gardeners International. He, like other TED speakers teaches with intelligence, and does so in minutes. So take a few minutes and watch his talk about his "Subversive Plot" to take over the world, one garden at a time :

Roger Doiron is founding director of Kitchen Gardeners International, a network of people taking a hands-on approach to re-localizing the global food supply. Doiron is an advocate for new policies, technologies, investments, and fresh thinking about the role of gardens. His successful petition to replant a kitchen garden at the White House attracted broad international recognition.

Dave's Killer Bread

2012-01-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-23T00:00:00.001-08:00

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 leafCrushed
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

2012-01-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

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!

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-08:00


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

2012-01-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

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!

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

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!

2012-01-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

"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

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

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!

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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

My New Years Resolutions for 2012

2011-12-31T00:00:00.001-08:00

I don't as a rule have New Year's Resolutions, but I am willing to not be as mean as years past:

So for 2012:

I resolve to:

Not be so mean to Justin Beiber- I still can't stand him as a celebrity, but he has shown the ability to laugh at himself, and he has given much back to charity.

And For 2012, I resolve to not be so mean to Martha Stewart- That Bitch has everything. And she shares her DIY Ideas... so who am I to criticize?

Booze Free New Year's

2011-12-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

First, I think we drink too much in this country. That being said , if you go out on New Year’s Eve, make sure someone is the Designated Driver. That means no alcohol for that “designated” person. Here are a few ideas on how to make the evening a little more DD friendly. And trust me- you do not want a DUI to start the new year.First- make sure where you are going has non alcoholic drinks. This may include Sodas, Sparkling waters, coffee, tea. My thing is to go to bars that have an espresso machine. And you would be surprised how many bars now cater to non- drinkers. They have to. Most states now have laws that include the bar that served DUI people. Call ahead to find out.If you are going to a private party or staying home… then the world is your oyster. There are a number of sites that have non-alcoholic cocktails or “mocktails”. I will list some of them at the end of this post.

One of the best things I have seen (and use) for the home “Dry bar”… A Soda Stream soda maker. It makes sodas for pennies a glass. And if you are adamant about no plastic, you can make Sodas using flavored syrups. They come in glass bottles. That is how I make Crème Soda- I jigger or 1 oz. of Torani’s Sugar-Free Vanilla Crème syrup to 8 oz of soda on Ice. Or try making your own syrups. Ginger Ale is easy

Good places to find "Mocktail" Recipes:

Roast Brussel Sprouts on the Stalk

2011-12-29T00:00:00.001-08:00

* 1 Brussels Sprouts Stalk
* 3/4 cup Maple Syrup
* 1/4 cup Olive Oil
* Freshly Ground Black Pepper & Sea Salt, to taste

Preheat oven to 350°. Trim the stalk down to the fullest, best looking part. Trim sprouts off one side to make a flat bottom. Trim any "tough" leaves from the sprouts. Rinse stalk and trimmed sprouts well in fresh water. Wrap damp stalk in cling wrap and heat in the microwave for 4-5 minutes. Place the trimmed loose sprouts in a bowl, cover with cling wrap and microwave for 3 minutes. Whisk maple syrup and olive oil together. Place stalk flat side down along with any loose sprouts on a roasting pan and pour the maple syrup mixture over. Use a pastry brush to mop the maple syrup onto all sides of the sprouts and stalk. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Place in oven and roast for about 45 minutes or until sprouts on stalk are fork tender and caramelize to a golden color. To serve: Place stalk on a holiday platter, pour any syrup from roasting pan over and garnish with something bright and tart such as dried cranberries or fresh pomegranate seeds.

REVIEW: The Non-Toxic Avenger By Deanna (Crunchy Chicken) Duke

2011-12-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

This was a hard book for me to read. Not because Ms. Duke used words that I don't understand. Quite the contrary- she writes her prose in a way that flows and is easily understood by the lower classes (of which I am proudly one of!). It was hard, because I have read her blog almost every day for four years. And I didn't want to find anything to be critical of.

Well I can relax. There is nothing in her book that is particularly frightening. Well nothing, but the subject matter itself. I don't know about you, but I don't like to think of toxins in my pure body. Deanna does. And she likes to talk about it. Deanna has no secrets. She honestly talks about those nasty things that get in our bodies, often using her own body tox test results. She also talks about Hank's (Mr. Chicken) myeloma. And her son Henry's (little rooster) aspbergers, and the possibility that toxins are the cause. But talking about ones health and body toxins and doing it in a no nonsense, easy speak manner is a gift. I was able to read this book in one good sitting. Which says a lot considering I have trouble reading this type of book. Maybe it's because I have harassed Deanna for years in the blog-o-sphere, or maybe it's because I consider her a friend... but I can really suggest this book to help find out what's in your system!

Suffice it too say, it was really a good book to read. I learned a lot. Thanks Deanna!

I rate the Non- Toxic Avenger Three and a half green thumbs up!

Re-Cycled Baked Beans

2011-12-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

No- it is not what you are thinking! I was looking at the left over sauce from my last batch of Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts I made for Christmas eve, and got an Idea- I got 2 cans of Pinto Beans and mixed them with the sauce in the same pot that I use to serve the chestnuts ... Baked Beans in a flash! A great "re-use" for food.

What was on your Christmas plate?

2011-12-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

Don't know if this is traditional in Scandinavian homes through out the U.S., but here is our traditional Christmas Dinner- Clock wise from top- Potato Sausage- A sausage made with potato, pork and beef; Klub (pronounced Clüb) a potato dumpling; Side Pork; and Lefse (a traditional Norwegian potato flat bread)

Awwww!

2011-12-25T05:52:00.001-08:00

Dogs "woof" Santa Claws and why Jack Russel terriers are so friggin cute!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Track Santa's Flight

2011-12-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

This year, as every year NORAD will be tracking Santa and you can join in on the fun.

Romeo Photo Shoot

2011-12-22T00:00:00.001-08:00

You know I couldn't finish the year with out a "Cute Dog" post. Here are the proofs from Romeo's Photo Shoot, there are over 90 photo's; theses are the photographer's picks;

This is my favorite Romeo on one of the posts in front of the suncatcher statue in Town Square Park

Goodbye Old Paint... Hello New Sweetness

2011-12-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Einstein!

Well I finally bought a new ride.. say hello to Einstein, my new Scion IQ. It was sad to say good bye to Ichiro, my old Suzuki... it had served me well for 16 years- I hope his new owner will appreciate it as much as I did. NOTE: I still haven't realized my dream of owning and driving an electric car, but until the car companies make it easier to buy them (Without involving the useless GEEK squad) I am guessing that there is no market for me in them.

Good bye Ichiro!

Holiday Favorites!

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

Every year it happens - people post some of the most creative things. Here are my Favorites for this year...

Photo by Garden Therapy.ca

Ok, if I had seen this Grinch Tree prior to putting up my artificial one, I would have done it as well. I am loving this whimsical tree that you can plant after the Holiday

I have an old sled, made by my grandpa for my dad, used later for ME by my mom to cart her baby to the town grocery and post office (they installed a wooden box on it) and I still have the sled! While it is too big to use as a centerpiece in my dining room, it could be used to put my grinch tree on next year! I love this centerpiece from Tammy Hodges, one of my fellow contributors at Junkmarket Style!

This little "Solar-Powered Santa" can be found at Instructables.com. Even with a pompom instead of an LED light, he would be a jolly old elf to put on my tree!

Looks like I will be busy next year. I know how to make tied dyed looking glass ornaments with clear glass ornaments and tempera paints, but ChrysN explains how to make these cool ornaments with Sharpies and Rubbing Alcohol!

Finally, we come to another sled- an ornament made from popsicle sticks!

Would you like to fly in my beautiful Balloon?

2011-12-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

One of the advantages to joining Craft parties is you get so many great Ideas from the other bloggers, Like my hot air baloon ornament, which I found on The Cheese Thief. Very simple to make, I substituted a small jewelry type box for the basket. I got my plastic ornament from Ikea "As-Is", plastic is so easy to drill into. I think it makes a smart looking ornament... Cap'n Jack likes it too!

Trader Joe's DIY Gift tags and a Bow!

2011-12-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

Note: I know, i know - this is the second DIY Gift tag post I have put up, but when I saw the printing on the bag I had to do it~

I was looking at a Trader Joe's paper bag, before dissassembling it for gift wrapping paper, and noticed the front had gift tags printed on the kraft paper. Well never one to leave a greener freebie alone I got out my trusty scissors and proceded to cut out some gift tags. A little jute twine and I was ready.

Then I read on, the side panels are printed too- for making paper chains. "Well I am not a kid so I a'int making no paper chains", I frowned. So I made a bow to go with the tags! Making a bow is easy just follow these simple instructions found at How about Orange blog.

And the back of the bag is perfect for wrapping a small present! A Re-Use Hat trick!

The Stockings were hung by the Chimney with care...

2011-12-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

Well this year Romeo and I are going all out for Santa. I ordered some canvas stockings from Oriental Trading Company, and used my Sharpie Stain Fabric Markers to decorate. I have stockings leftover... maybe they will turn into gift bags for next year? Speaking of Romeo and christmas... I just got his christmas pic with the old elf. Cute dog, No?

DIY GIFT TAGS

2011-12-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

This year, as last I made my own gift tags- the above are made out of a christmas card from my dentist... simple- just cut and punch a hole

This are made from some mini ornaments I found at Big Lots and some cut up coffee sleeve protectors from a local espresso shop. I like the "cardboardy" look.

Member of Paperback Swap? Donate those Credits!

2011-12-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

Harney Elementary, Vancouver, WA

If you are a member of the Paperback Swap kudos to you! You are helping the environment by recycling your used books, CD's and DVD's. But now there is a way to help out Schools in your area. Paperback Swap has a Books for Schools program, And if you have been gaining credits at Paperback Swap, you can now donate them to the school or schools of your choice to put books in their Libraries and classrooms. They also have a Military Book donation program to donate books to members of our military. But the donation is quick easy and only cost you credits made while actively participating in the book swap,

Pig Kisses... A cookie Elvis would love

2011-12-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

I was sitting around, without much to do, and started thinking about cookies and how I could kick my peanut butter kisses up a notch... so of course I thought "BACON". So in true Elvis fashion I came up with a cookie I simply call Pig Kisses

PIG KISSES
1 c. peanut butter, smooth or crunchy (I use a 16 oz. Jar of Adams "no stir" Crunchy and double the recipe)
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. sugar
12 strips of bacon cooked and crumbled
Combine above ingredients. Roll into small balls, about 1 inch. Place on a cookie pan lined with parchment paper, Bake at 350 degrees until done (about 7-10 minutes). Top with a Hershey's Kiss while cookies are still warm. Let Cool on pan or place in a refrigerator for 10-15 minutes
(Note there is no flour in this recipe. Not an omission on my part- just doesn't call for it! So happy Gluten free cookie break!)

Frozen Pea Salad

2011-12-11T18:00:00.000-08:00

Easiest salad to put together ever! I use Ranch dressing to kick it up a notch. Great with or without bacon!

FROZEN PEA SALAD
2 c. frozen peas (uncooked)
1/2 c. green onions chopped
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
Bacon bits or crisp bacon broken into pieces if desired (TVP "morningstar farms" soy bacon works good- I think the salad is fine without bacon)
1/2 c. ranch dressing or mayonnaise

Mix together with salad dressing or mayonnaise. Garnish with a rosemary sprig if desired. Serve

Great Re-Uses for Common Kitchen Items

2011-12-07T15:42:00.001-08:00

The ladies over at Two Frugal Chicks put up their top three re-uses for common kitchen items from Real Simple.com... well, here are my favorites!

Cocktail Shaker Egg Scrambler

Binder clip as a chip clip

Gravy Boat as a unique soap dish

Aluminum Foil as a fixture protector

Bundt pan as a Vertical Roaster

Dish towel as a Wine Gift Bag!

Coffee filter as a snack server

MY CHRISTMAS LIST!

2011-12-06T16:43:00.001-08:00

Dear Santa-

I, as last year, have been very good this year. Yet last year I didn't see a new Tesla Roadster under my tree. I ask for so little. So see if you could do a little better this year, Okay? Now on to my list...

A new Rockler Versacut Saw- this would be so good to do those jobs around the house. Lightweight and easy to handle (I bet that Lisa at Condo Blues could use one too. But send mine first please. She has enough tools already.)

Buckyballs- because you can never have enough mind numbing toys. Besides I think it would be fun to play with my balls at work!

Enterprize Starship Pizza Cutter... Because Pizza is truly the final frontier!

And one more thing... My dog, Romeo, would like a Zack and Zooey Jacket as we take long walks and it can get cold! He, like me, has been especially good this year!

So that is my 2011 list for Christmas. So see if you could better than last year and get me one of each. You don't want me to come up to the north pole, you darn old sonofabitch!

Rob

Christmas Tree Alternatives

2011-12-02T02:08:00.001-08:00

Every year the debate starts about this time- Which is better? Real or Fake? Which is more ecological, greener or cheaper. And every year I get into the fray. Well this year i have a new answer... NEITHER!
let me 'splain... I have nothing against real trees. Just that every year the news media has a story about some poor bastard whose house has burnt down. I just don't like the fire factor. So I thought I would post a few alternatives to look into:

BOTTLE TREES- what better than a tree made out of your wine bottles? Actually these have gained some popularity over the years, and can look quite festive! The Bottle Tree store has many to choose from, including a DIY kit. And I think these are good looking enough to keep around all year!

CARDBOARD TREES- These are cool as well. You can decorate them with markers, photos or what ever comes to your imagination! You can decorate one and send it to someone special, a grandparent, a son or daughter away at college, a service man, a loved one far away.

METAL TREES Yes I said metal. I have seen a few ornament trees around and they can be pricey. But I found mine (at the top of this post) at Big Lots for $10!

Of course there are natural alternatives like Living Christmas trees, the advantage being you can plant the tree after the holiday. Or how about decorating an existing house plant? Or a smelly Rosemary plant (they can look like pine trees) I have done both of these and loved the look.

FOOD HACKING- Holiday pretzel treats

2011-11-30T01:41:00.001-08:00

Food Hacking: verb; To change food from one thing to something completely else;
I found this recipe for a food hack on Disney Family Fun website

Ingredients:
Bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels
M&M's
Hershey's Kisses or Hershey's Hugs

Heat the oven to 170F. Set a number of bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels (one for each treat) in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, then top each pretzel with an unwrapped Hershey's Kiss or Hershey's Hug.Bake for 4 to 6 minutes (the white chocolate will melt more quickly), until the chocolates feel soft when touched with a wooden spoon. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and quickly press an M&M's candy into the center of each Kiss.Allow the treats to cool for a few minutes, then place them in the refrigerator to set, about 10 minutes. Place handfuls of the candies in clear plastic bags and tie on colorful ribbons.

After Holiday Traditions

2011-11-29T00:03:00.001-08:00

Well I played Hookey today and got my Christmas Lights up! New this year to my LED Light display is the 5 penguins guarding the window box. That and making turkey stock were the highlghts of my day. I did use the vegetables leftover from my "Crudite" plate I made for Thanksgiving. Then I made some Turkey Noodle Soup using the fresh stock.

Romeo... A Whore for the Camera!

2011-11-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

Well the first photo's of Romeo's photo shoot are coming in. "Whose the handsome boy? Who?"
The photographer was embarrassed due to the fact he had his camera set on JPEG format instead of RAW format, so there are no color pics. I don't care... I am actually biased toward Kodachrome anyhow so I am happy with B&W Pics. Joel, the photographer, and his wife, Angie, are very active in local pet issues, are big advocates of pet adoption and rescue, own a second hand pet supply shop in Tacoma, WA. They donated this prize of a pet photo shoot to the AARF Auction I went to and spent some dollars on this auction item a few months ago

DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES...

2011-11-25T13:52:00.001-08:00

Rob's World is temporarily shut down due to technical difficulties. The recent high winds knocked my cable line and I am Xfinity's Bitch waiting for a repairman. I should be up by Monday! Until then... enjoy this musical interlude...

"Oh a mighty winds a blowin’, it’s kickin’ up the sand,
It’s blowin’ out a message to every woman, child and man
Yes a mighty winds a blowin’, cross the land and cross the sea,
It’s blowin’ peace and freedom, it’s blowin’ equality.
Yes it’s blowin’ peace and freedom, it’s blowin’ you and me…"

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

2011-11-23T15:39:00.001-08:00

Perfect little snack or appetizer for a holiday party. The Soy sauce gives it an Asian taste that goes well with the rather sweet taste of whole dish!

½ stick butter
½ cup of Brown Sugar
3 TBSP. ketchup
½ Tsp. dried mustard
1 ½ TBSP. Worchestershire Sauce
2 Cans whole water chestnuts
Bacon (usually 1 package cut into half is enough)
½ cup soy sauce

Marinate water chestnuts in soy sauce for 2-4 hoursMelt butter in saucepan and add remaining ingredients. Stir until mixture is simmering. This should make enough sauce for 2 cans of water chestnuts.Wrap the bacon around each chest nut and skewer with a toothpick to secure.Cook seam(where the ends of the bacon meet) side down in cake pan or something deep enough to hold excess grease at 350 degrees until browned. Drain on paper towels. I usually put baked water chestnuts in the crock pot and pour the sauce over them and cook on low just to keep warm (a chafing dish works well also). Avoid unnecessary stirring.

USING NEW SHARPIE STAIN FABRIC MARKERS

2011-11-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

I saw on "How about orange" blog a while ago she got asked to try out New Sharpie Stain Fabric Markers. Rob did not get jealous. Rob ordered a set of markers. They came last week and what fun. On the canvas bag , they did not run or bleed. I can imagine a whole lot of things I could do with them. Hmmm.... maybe mark my underwear so I don't lose them at the next Blogger camp out.

Tie dye ornaments!

2011-11-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat

Making decorations is where I'm at!!!

I got started this year making some glass ornaments. This is so easy, just glop in two colors of paint (Not a whole lot, and I use tempera paint) into a clear glass ornament, put upside down into an egg carton, and 24 hours or so later you have these cool ornaments!

Featured!

2011-11-21T10:06:00.001-08:00

My Duct tape Shopping bag was featured at So Creative!

20/20 Vision

2011-11-20T22:47:00.001-08:00

I went to the Burien Arts Commission's 20/20 Vision Art Show and Sale over the weekend. Here is what I bought...

First I obtained this great painting of a Tiger by local artist Jerome Damey. Jeromme supports himself through art school at the UW as the sign artist at our local Trader Joe's.

And I got this great block print by Theresa Neinas. I am a sucker for pictures and paintings of yard equiptment,

And this small collage I got just because it makes me smile. It is by local artist Eric Edwards

I know little of the artist of this painting "Poppys Galore" I bought at the silent Auction...

But I know a piece of Ikea cabinetry when I see it

Turning it over proved it. I have to admire art created on Ikea "AS IS" items.

What are you growing? Pizza!

2011-11-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

Can you believe congress? Now they are arguing that Pizza is a vegetable. I really think that our elected officials should have more important work to do.
While we are at it maybe French Fries should be an entree, or Romeo's kibble a meat dish (if they don't count corn as a meat). Not since Ronald Reagan tried to declare Ketchup a vegetable have I been so amused at congressional and/or political shenanigans.
I am still thinking if I didn't grow it, it is not a vegetable...
Pizza? a Vegetable? Seriously, where do you buy those seeds?

More KIVA News!

2011-11-17T20:19:00.001-08:00

My Kiva loans are being re-payed. I had enough to make two more loans! I made two loans to American Entrepreneurs, one who owns a laundromat, and employs 6 persons, and one to a gal who owns a hair and beauty salon, and employs 2 full time and 2 part time employees. Why the American Loans? Well I feel that philanthropy is no good if you can’t do it in your own back yard. And the fact they use the loans to employ people is important. And my first three loans are being repaid as we speak, by my Chicken Farmer in Senegal, My Pig Farm Co-op in Ecuador and my Used Clothing group in Tanzania.

The fun thing about KIVA and Kiva Loans is you know you are helping people, families and workers all over the world. And it is a minimum investment, that returns so much more than money, it returns hope.

Duct Tape Shopping Bag!

2011-11-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

The last time I made a shopping bag, I made it out of a leg of a pair jeans, the staff at Trader Joe's (along with some customers) laughed at me. This time, I prayed to Red Green for wisdom, and of course he answered my prayers... "Use the Duct Tape". So I simply took a grocery bag, covered it in silver duct tape, and used some of my fancy flamed duct tape for a border around the top and to make handles. The Handels are simply long strips of duct tape folded over on itself and shoved through a hole in the bag and knotted then a corresponding hole on 4" away. I think it turned out pretty sweet.
I can't wait to go to Trader Joe's tomorrow!

Up-cycling Cans

2011-11-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

I found some pretty amazing ways to recycle tin cans andcoffee cans, beside using them for flour canisters:

I have tons of these Trader Joe’s coffee cans; now, thanksto Lee at Leethal Do stuff Blog, I don’t have a ton of yarn around the house,but I have plenty of stuff that needs storage. This Coffee can storage unit isjust the coolest.

And Melissa at Those Northern Skies made some great ornaments out of tin can lids.

At Readymade there is this cool lamp made from Coffee cans.

And finally over atEsprit Cabane, some very unique candle holders made from soda cans!

So there are numerousways to up-cycle cans. Just takes a little imagination!

Buy Nothing Day

2011-11-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

Well "Black Friday" November 25 (November 26th in the rest of the world ) is coming.It is also Buy Nothing day. And maybe MTV, ABC and CTV wouldn't air adbusters Buy nothing ad, but they didn't come around to my world. ANd I am proud to show their ad!

Buy Nothing Day doesn't mean Don't buy gifts. Just put some thought behind it. Buy handmade. Or buy used. Or make it yourself. And ignore Black Friday. Your pocket book and nerves will thank you!

The A to Z of Rob

2011-11-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

The A to Z Guide to Me

I'm stealing this meme from my Deanna over at the blog Crunchy Chicken. Because I like stealing ideas!

Age: 51. Just the right age to be

Bed size: Full. Would prefer a queen but don't have the room

Chore I hate: Just about anything that involves cleaning.

Dogs: Romeo- 6 years old going on 1 year. A cocka-poo (cocker spaniel/ poodle mix)

Essential start to my day: Walking romeo.

Favorite color: Depends- Green, but in cars I really like red

Gold or silver: Neither.

Height: 5'6".

Instruments I play: Fumble at playing the Ukulele, and I play one mean kazoo.

Job title: Maintenance Plumber A. Don't have a clue what the "A" stands for.

Kids: None - unless you count Romeo

Live:Burien, WA; Kent, WA; Pacific, WA; Algona, WA; Fairdale, N.D.

Mother's name: Darlene. AKA BIG NURSE, Little Lu and Auntie Darlene

Nicknames: Bob, Bosee, Boof (dont ask).

Overnight hospital stays:Lessee- since I was born... Pneumonia, Congestive Heart Failure

Pet Peeve: Other Drivers. Assholes who take two parking spaces

Quote from a movie: "Well, you know what they say: if you don't have anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me!"

Right or left handed: Righthanded

Siblings: None. But i Do have over 50 1st cousins!

Time I wake up: 9:00 AM

Underwear: Boxer shorts.

Vegetable I hate: Eggplant.

What makes me run late: Too many things on my plate.

X-rays I've had: Dental Xrays, chest x-rays, leg, hand, Upper GI,Colonoscopy.

Yummy food I make: Um, everything?

Zoo animal: Puppies? Chipmunks! Oh I know... Polar Bears!

Reusing a Starbucks Traveler

2011-11-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

We had a work party in the Community Garden over the weekend. I brought a "Traveler" of coffee from starbucks so folks could have some coffee. Then I thought - how can one re-use this traveler rather than just chucking it in the trash. Here is what I did

See thr nice traveler box? it opens so easily...

the bladder bag is exposed

slip the bag out of the box, rinse out and stick on a large stick to dry or clip bottom of bag on a clothes line (so the water cand drip out the open spout)

Not perfect - a thermos would be better, but useable and do able in a pinch!

Craftzine to the Rescue!!!

2011-11-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

Photo: Craftzine Magazine

Well now that I have a neat new shelf unit in my Studio closet, I wanted more storage! Here comes The CraftZine Magazine Blog to the rescue--- Put some milk crates on the wall! So simple to do - take a milk crate, some fender washers, wall anchors and just put those puppies on the wall. Great Idea for Kid's room closets, or for your craft room/studio, They can look pretty fantastic as well.

Making Gift Cards More Personal

2011-11-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

I know Christmas is two months away. But CHRISTMAS IS ONLY TWO MONTHS AWAY!!! I plan on giving gift cards and certificates to a lot of my gift recepients this year.
Making gift cards and/or gift certificates doesn't have to be impersonal. There are a lot of great templates our there to make great homemade holders and envelopes,

I love this Watering Can holder, just the thing for a garden gift or a gift for a gardener

Watering Cam template- So easy just print onto some silver cardstock and cut out! Perfect for a gift card, gift certificate or a packet of seeds

Tool Box Gift Card Holder Great gift card holder for a DIY'er or dad or housewarming

General Gift Card holder template- try getting a tad creative and print out a picture of the person recieving the gift and make your holder or envelope out of that! Or try Angry Chicken's envelope design to make an envelope for your gift card or certificate!

Ruh Roh- Rick or Reat... Boo in Burien

2011-10-31T00:01:00.001-07:00

Saturday marked the annual Boo In Burien, where little Goblins and Their dogs get dressed up in their finest Trick or treat fare and get treated to loads of fun and candy or dog treats by the local businesses in Burien.

Romeo all happy in his Cat get up.
Romeo's pals all spooked out for the day

"OMG... I can't believe I have to wear this stupid hat!"

Towns of kids trick or treating the businesses as an alternative to the houses

Complete the day with a hayride.

There where a lot of things to do including a haunted Chiropractors Office, Kid's Costume Parade, Dog costume Parade, Weiner Dog Races and Candy, Candy, Candy!

Romeo's Halloween Costume

2011-10-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

" I will kill you in your sleep"

So I know everyone has been sitting on pins and needles to find out what Romeo will be this year for Halloween. And since his best friend Sammy Cat is no more, Romeo and I discussed it and decided he will be Sammy Cat in honor of his feline friend. Was simple to make, I made a custom dog T-shirt at Cafe Press, got together some cat ears that I had to customize by drilling a small hole in the bottom of the head band base, then installed a rubber band to tighten it when Romeo is in cat mode! The tail is from one of the hanging upside down planters I made last summer. Now he is ready for Halloween!

Cola Pot Roast in the Crock Pot

2011-10-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

I love using the crock pot... Sometimes I make an entire meal out of it- other times I simply make and entree!
I made a pot roast the other night. With Coca cola! So easy to do, I imagine the sugars in the cola help break down the fat in the chuck roast. So set it and forget it!

Cola Pot Roast
2 Cans French onion soup
1 Bottle (20oz) of Cola (not diet)
1 4-7 lb Chuck Roast

Start by opening 1 can of French onion soup, pour it into the bottom of your crock pot. Place the chuck roast on top of the soup, Dump the second can of soup over the Chuck Roast, Pour the Cola over all. Set you crock pot to high, until it heats up, then set to low, let cook for 5-6 hours. The soup/ cola mix makes and excellent sauce/gravy. Seriously!

A new Chicken? An envelope making one!

2011-10-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

There is another chicken out there in the blogosphere... and this one is an Angry Chicken (as opposed to the Crunchy one) and this one came up with a new way to make envelopes out of magazines and scrap paper with no cutting, no templates... and she has a tutorial video on it to boot. So welcome Angry Chicken, and thanks!

A take off on another take-off, does that make me a double copy cat?

2011-10-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

I saw an Eames Inspired Shelving unit on Ikea Hackers some time ago, and was inspired myself to make something simular to put in my Studio closet to hold art supplies, gifts, etc. I didn't use the APA box in mine, nor put a piece of MDF Birch veneered plywood on the back, but i think I got the same effect. I used 2 craft crates, from Michael's (also available at JoAnn's) instead of the APA boxes. I simply figured where they should go, drilled whatever holes I need and screwed the Hyllis legs onto the boxes. I really like the unit. It makes my closet in the Studio look sharp and organized, until your eye veers over to the overstacked work table, which proves I am not neat and organized!

How Bob Saved His Family Farm...

2011-10-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

Interesting sketch work in the Seattle Times...

Sketch by Gabriel Campanario, Seattle Times

Bob Ricci knew what to do with his family's farm after the purebred Holstein cows were sold and the dairy business shut down. He told his dad, a third-generation Snohomish farmer, that he would plant a corn maze and charge people to go through it.
Read about Bob and his innovative ways to make the Family Farm survive. And when reading look at the great Sketches by Gabriel Campanario.

DIY Cannisters

2011-10-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

I was lamenting that my authentic 1950’s Canister set only had a single canister for Flour. I have three kinds of flour in my house… whole wheat, all purpose, and self rising. And if you count Biscuit mix, then four. And don’t forget corn meal! So when I ended up buying three small sacks of flour… I thought know how do I keep these stored. Then it dawned on me-Coffee cans. My mom still buys coffee in the can and is always giving me the empty cans. And the guys at work use Folgers in those hideous new plastic cans. Luckily I had enough to store my flours. Just a quick “re-label” with a Sharpie and I was set!

Halloween Ornaments

2011-10-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

Been a while since I posted anything crafty! I made some Halloween Ornaments to hang on my Halloween Tree.
I got some Clear Glass Ornament balls frim Michaels, put a little orange paint in the ornament, swirl around a bit then lit drain out (I find tempera works better, a little cheaper than acrylic- But I tried both!) Then I took my trusty Sharpie and simply drew Jack O' Lantern faces on the ornaments!

So long Chile

2011-10-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

My blogging friend, Chile Chews has decided to quit blogging. At least her Chile Chews blog. Her blog has always been a must read for me. Always informative, educational. I understand her reasons for quitting, bur it still sucks. Anyway Godspeed Chile, check in once in a while. You will be missed and are always welcome in my world.

You can call me Mr. Begley!

2011-10-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

My new car? Hopefully!

Well it looks like I am a step closer to my dream of an Electric Vehicle. I put a reservation deposit on a Mistsubishi I EV (MiEV) ES in raspberry red, at the local Mitsubishi Dealer. If all goes well I should have my new car in December/January. First, I have to have the Geek Squad come out and do a site survey for the charging unit. And get rid of some cars I already own. It makes me sad that my faithful Suzuki Swift is one of them, though. Oh well. After that it is just wait for the car... then I can pretend my name is Ed Begley Jr!

Freeze Yer Buns 2011

2011-10-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

Time to break out the blankets and the fur lined under wear... Ms. Chicken has Announced the Freeze yer Buns challenge 2011. Yes Folks, the annual challenge where The Crunchy Chicken encourages all to lower their thermostats (at least a few degrees), and reap the rewards... A frozen butt and blue balls? No, but save $$$. I figure I saved at least $300 last year doing this, and more this year (no Martin running his A/C all night long with the heater on) so I should be in for a whopping savings! Even if you can only drop one or two degrees it should still show up on on your electric and/or gas/oil bill. And save a few energy units at the same time! And you know that is a WIN WIN!

Win a Concrete Garden Kit!!!

2011-10-13T13:54:00.000-07:00

Win a concrete garden kit form Timber Press...
Yes you have an opportunity to win this cool kit from Timber Press to create unusual and different things for your garden out of concrete! The kit includes a $25 Home Depot gift certificate, a set of foam number molds, and a copy of the book Concrete Garden Projects. Just go to this page and enter your email address for a chance to win! Hurry! The contest ends October 21st, 2011

Attack of the Killer Green Tomatoes

2011-10-12T00:01:00.000-07:00

Green Tomato Bread- A delicious use for Green Tomatoes

OH MY GOD! WHAT AM I GONNA DO WITH THESE GREEN TOMATOES?
After pulling out my tomato plants, I had a glut of green tomatoes. And as much as I like fried green tomatoes, I can't eat that many. Well through the power of the inter webs, I found some new ideas

NO SUGAR GREEN TOMATO RELISH
Farmgirl fare blog had a recipe for No sugar Green Tomato relish, that is great. Very salsa like and easy to make and process, I found it easy to freeze as well
I followed this recipe on Farmgirl fare blog using only 1/2 cup of the vinegar, Then I froze some of the relish instead of processing it. Great on sausages and pork chops, or on a cracker, or some toast

GREEN TOMATOES AND BELL PEPPERS

2 tablespoons olive oil
4 green tomatoes, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 celery, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in green tomatoes, bell pepper, celery, green onions and apple cider vinegar. Saute until tender crisp, about 5 to 10 minutes. Serve on baked potatoes or rice.

Bacon, Lettuce, Fried Green Tomato Sandwich (B,L,FGT Sandwich) And TOMATO TACOS
I make the standard fried green tomatoes and use the FGT in place of ripened tomatoes on a sandwich. And I do the same on a tortilla instead of fried fish or chicken

GREEN TOMATO BREAD
And here is a great idea that allows you to freeze the green tomatoes- Michelle at Cooking with Michelle makes GREEN TOMATO BREAD, making a puree out of the green tomatoes and thus being able to freeze it! Or make the bread and freeze!

I am a Adoptive Green Mutha!

2011-10-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” - Mahatma Ghandi

This post is part of the Green Mom's Carnival hosted this month by Lisa at Condo Blues

Y'all know how much fun I have with my dog Romeo. And while technically he wasn't a shelter dog, he was abandoned by his former owner at a pet kennel. So I superseded the shelter and adopted him through the kennel. I found out that October is the Adopt a Shelter Dog month , celebrated via the American Humane Society, and there are important reasons to adopt dogs:

Do you want:

an exercise buddy?
- a best friend and confidant for your child?
- a dog you can train with to learn animal-assisted therapy?
- a partner in agility competitions?
- a constant companion for your favorite senior citizen?
- a fuzzy face to greet you after a hard day at work?
An adopted dog can be all these things -- and so much more!

My history with adopted dogs is somewhat Bittersweet- most of my dogs have been older fellows looking to live out there days with some consistency and security in a home where they are wanted and loved.
Binky and Spike

I got my last Yorkie, Binky through a Yorkie rescue. I had another Yorkie, Max, who was my best friend for up to 12 years. And he was the "I'm everyones friend" kind of dog that Romeo is. Well, Binky while he looked like Max in the face, didn't share the same attitude. In fact he was a one owner dog, Which I was okay with. He was my little killer, whose attitude was I want to be alone. Or maybe it was more "get the hell away from me!". But he loved a warm lap and his big brother Spike.

I got Spike through a co-worker whose sister in law wanted to get rid of him. Your usual fixed pug, with big eyes and smashed in face, he was about 15 pounds over weight. And gawd, could he snore. He was friendly, Liked everyone, didn't like sudden movements and showed signs of abuse. He was probably the dog most like me. He was able to do his own thing around here (mostly nap) and had a long quiet life at the end.

Topaz- Topaz was Martin's Mom's guide dog. A big ~~stupid~~dumb Chocolate Lab that never should have graduated Guide School. But what she lacked in intelligence she made up for in loyalty, love and hair shedding. A good girl to the end.

So my point is this... I have had a lot of dogs (and cats and even a rabbit!) who were unwanted in their former homes. Some where victims of abusive homes, some where simply ignored and unwanted, and in the case of Topaz, couldn't do their job properly and had to be retired. But all have proven to be loving great pets and companions to me. Even the older ones, although they are not around as long as I would like.

Romeo, while somewhat younger, is so well liked and known throughout the community. He is a natural "ice breaker" when meeting people- you have to have conversations, even when they are about your dog!

Adopting a sheltered/rescued dog or cat is not so much green, as it is the right thing to do. You will find dogs of all sizes, and personalities. Many have special needs, just like children. But a little investigation will match you with the perfect pet/companion for a long time.

Adopting a dog/cat/pet... I highly recommend it!

Burien Brat Trot!

2011-10-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

What so you think of a fat boy joining in a race? No I am not going to do the 5K, maybe I will do the 1.2 Short course walk. But in any case I went to the Brat Trot website and sponsored a child and put in $20 for a pair of running shoes.. So I am participating if all I do is sit in one of Burien's Fine eateries and fill up on brats. The sacrifices I make for a good cause!

Travelin' to the Beat of A Different Drum...

2011-10-05T00:01:00.001-07:00

Well I owe this one to my dog, Romeo… I was walking him along the street and he discovered this kid’s drum set set out with the garbage. "Hmmmm…", wonders I… "what could I make with that?"
Immediatelely I thought about a table and a lamp. And maybe a planter. Any way I drug the drum kit home. No easy task when you are walking a dog who wants to go everywhere and see everything. So I gets home and start to proceed in making my drum table. I removed the drum skin and installed the legs- 3 24” pieces of ½ inch copper, with 6 split ring pipe holders. Then I added pipe caps on all the ends. Then the glass top- an old turntable glass from a microwave (my favorite glass Table tops).
Now for the lamp… I thought of a few ways to do it… 1 attached to one of the table legs, but worried it would be to top heavy. So I thought “how about a standard lamp?” and attached the two smaller drums together and put them on a lamp pedestal I had laying around. Then a lamp kit. Finally the lamp itself. I used the larger small drum as a lampshade and the smaller for a lamp body. Turned out pretty good if I say so myself!

Betty's Fried Green Bell Peppers

2011-10-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love about gardening is fresh Bell Peppers. I owe a debt of thanks to my late friend, Betty, for introducing me to the wonders of fried green bell peppers for breakfast! Better for you than fried potatoes, part of a good breakfast

Betty's Fried Green Bell Peppers
Olive oil
Two green bell peppers, sliced, about 1/4 inch thick
Salt and pepper

Place about two tablespoons of olive oil in a fry pan, let it heat. Add salt and pepper to taste. Place green bell peppers in, stir frying until translucent. Serve with scrambled eggs and toast!

Thrift Store Bike Carrier

2011-10-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

New Mount bike carrier

Old mount

I found this bike carrier in the local thrift store... It was mounted on a partial hitch. I went and bought a new Hitch Mount for it and re-mounted it. All in all the total cost was 35.98. I think that is as cheap as you can get on Bike carriers! And yes someone egged the tailgate of my truck.. because they are jealous of my Bike Carrier!

The City Homesteader- A Book Review

2011-09-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

“The City Homesteader -Self Sufficiency On Any Square footage” By Scott Meyer

I got this book from the public library. I very easy reading book, I am guessing I will download to my kindle soon.

What Scott Meyer has written is an easy to follow instruction book, with no-nonesense illustrations that explain how to build/bake/grow various things in making your own Urban Homestead. The information is basically everything I read in blogs, but it is nice to have a “reference book” to look at from time to time.No need to be a gentleman farmer to use this book. Easily read and comprehend, I give it 3 green thumbs up!

Bring it on, Winter

2011-09-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

I am ready for when the wind blows and our overhead lines give in to falling trees and branches. I purchased a Mr. Heater Big Buddy indoor propane heater to use for emergency heat this year. I have a Coleman indoor heater, but that is like trying to heat an igloo with a match. This bad boy is 18000 BTU's and can heat a 400 Sq. foot space for 220 hours (depending on what size tank you use). I chose this because, let's face it, I am not into cutting trees and too lazy to cut and stack wood, and my electric fireplace does not work so well in a power outage. So, let it blow let it snow I am ready for you Old Man Winter!

Fresh... The Movie

2011-09-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

http://www.freshthemovie.com/

Fresh The Movie is a film by Ana Joanes

From the movie website:

"FRESH is more than a movie, it’s a gateway to action. Our aim is to help grow FRESH food, ideas, and become active participants in an exciting, vibrant, and fast-growing movement.
When I write we, I don’t mean our small team (officially two of us, with lots of amazing helps from our interns and volunteers) but I mean YOU. All of you. FRESH is a grassroots efforts for a grassroots movement. It’s been tremendously exciting to see the movie catch on and spread like wild fire, being used all over the country as a platform to raise awareness and connecting people to the solutions available in their community.
Within a month of our launch, we’ve received over 20,000 visitors and hundreds of screenings have already been organized. We want to reach 1 million folks. Not just because that would totally feel nice to our ego (mine especially!), but because, we believe that FRESH can truly help get us to a tipping point, when sustainable food will no longer be just a niche market."

Weekly Challenge Update

2011-09-27T01:26:00.000-07:00

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 40
Plant something- Cauliflower, arugula, Chard,
Harvest something- tomatoes, lemon cucumbers, zucchini, Amaranth, mushrooms, chard, green peppers; Discovered my volunteer tomato plant was a “yellow pear cherry tomato”, which is funny as I did not plant one either season at the community garden
Preserve something- Froze amaranth, chard, peaches
Community: Found some more cans of cat food, donated to Pet Food Bank; Attended a benefit Auction for AARF, one of the local animal charities in the area
Preparation: Starting to think about winter and cold weather (and power outages) and doing some research on emergency heating
Eat the food/Try something new: A frittata with zucchini, mushrooms and green peppers
Waste Not/Repair, Re-Use, Recycle- made some vases out of old industrial light bulbs and some lamp parts
Want not: Bought some upside down planters at closeout price at Lowes- some for Christmas gifts, some for me!

Easy ways to try "heat retention" cooking

2011-09-26T00:10:00.000-07:00

Well I know Chile has done it. So has Fleecenik farms. Do what? Heat retention cooking A.K.A. Hay Box cooking. This is an great an easy way to cook dishes like Quinoa or pasta or rice. Here are some easy ways to try heat retention cooking.

1- Cooler Cooking-

Via my frugal friends, the two frugal chicks a week or so ago posted how to cook cooler corn, Simply take a clean cooler, place your ears of corn in it, pour boiling water over it and close the lid for 30 minutes. I tried it with a couple of ears of corn and a smaller cooler... and it worked!

2- Thermos Cooking-

I have also tried Thermos pasta (just put your serving of pasta in a coffee thermos and pour in hot water to the top and in 10 minutes you should have perfectly cooked pasta.

Heat Retention Cooking:

Thermos cooking:

Note: you can find stainless steel thermos at thrift stores and garage sales for cheap!

Volt VS. Leaf

2011-09-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

I have been looking at Electric cars again. This time I looked and did some test drives. I test drove the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf.

The Volt- I cannot get over the sticker price of the Volt- over $40K. But it does have some advantages- Your batteries run down below 50% and the gas "generator" takes over. But i still cannot also get over the fact the GM had the EV1 and the way they got rid of them. GM could have been a leader and chose instead to cow tow to the Big Oil companies and withered away their opportunity.

The Leaf- Me personally I think the Leaf is a sharper looking car. Great lines and such. And it has features that even Romeo is looking for.

But all that being said, Neither company seems to get the fact that putting a deposit down to order a car is a turn off. Just sell me the damn car. Don't take my deposit and make me wait 3 to 6 months to buy my car. Nothing turns me off faster.

BLT... The Salad

2011-09-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what to do about cherry tomatoes? Well this is the first year I can remember tomatoes being so late to ripen, and so many... Anyway I picked about 3 pounds of Cherry tomatoes and thought Now what? I started to think and came up with this ridiculously easy salad for supper.

BLT Salad
1 cup of cherry tomatoes, cut in halves

1 cup of lettuce, shredded

2 TBLSP. of mayonaisse

4 slices of cooked bacon, crumbled

1/2 cup of cheddar cheese

1 SLice of toast, cut into small cubes

Place cherry tomatoes, lettuceand 3/4 of the bacon in a medium bowl, gently toss, add mayonnaise, cheese, toss again until well mixed. Top with toast cubes and the remainder of bacon.

Vase or Vaz?

2011-09-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would share my vases I made. These are made from old industrial light bulbs found in the trash, I drill out the end and remove the filament. They are mounted on some old lamp parts I had lying around. The Geberra Daisy's are from Gehl Flowers and Gifts in downtown Burien

Call Me Martha!

2011-09-16T06:05:00.000-07:00

I don't mean to go all Martha Stewart on y'all, but just thought I would point out some ideas to use leftover and scrapped food items I have picked up over the years- So relax, we are not going to forge our own frying pans! And I am sure folks out there have their own little ideas so feel free to comment and share!

You can polish leather shoes with bananas. Really! Rub the inner rind on the entire leather portion, making sure to avoid any laces, and wipe clean with a soft piece of cloth. Bonus green tip: reuse an old t-shirt or other used clothing item that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
Add some zest to your stove cleaning (literally). Sprinkle some salt on the inside of halved, just-pressed orange or lemon peels and go to town on stubborn stove-top messes.
Orange, lemon and grapefruit rinds can be added to preserved fruits and jams to add a little zest. Did you know that you can also pickle citrus rinds? They make a tangy snack, and require just a few ingredients.
Citrus rinds, herb stems and peels add unique flavors to any clear alcohol. Add lime rinds to tequila blanco (white), or mint leaf stems to light rum for an extra-refreshing mojito. Let the flavors mingle in a cool, dry place for 2 weeks, and you’re ready to drink! For an instant, non-alcoholic treat, add cucumber and lemon peels to fresh filtered water for a subtle, cooling refreshment.
Add orange, grapefruit, or lemon peels to a hot bath before submerging yourself. They add an energizing scent, and lemons are know to lighten age spots and freckles.
It’s never too late to start making your own soup stock. Add vegetable peels like carrot, celery and potato to the simmering broth to add some extra flavor.
Save your potato peelings from baked potatos to make potato skins!
Make "Ribbollita" a soup that uses up your leftover vegetables and stale bread!
Make "Croutons" out of stale bread!
Make Bread Pudding out of stale breads... I have made them out of biscuits, croissants and donuts!
Don't forget... good old Composting!

I bought a night guard and saved money!

2011-09-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Well after spending the amount of a used Subaru, I Finally got my tooth implant. And now they (My dentists) are all hot and bothered for me to get a Night guard (even though I do not grind my teeth).
My family has a little experience with night guards. My mom got one years ago. And left it in a motel room in Billings, Montana, when she and dad went on a trip to the Dakotas.
So she got an over the counter Night guard.
My dentist, bless his heart, is sure trying to hard sell these night guards. He was talking to another patient when I came in to get my crown on the implant. He was telling this poor guy he needed a night guard. $400 dollars a pop. Got me to thinking…
$400 for something my meticulous mother lost, What chance do I have?. So I went to the drug store and bought an over the counter (actually the come in a pair) for $30. Went home, boiled it, formed it in my mouth. Done. Now I have a night guard at a fraction of the price! Sorry Doc, but dollars are dollars. And they don’t grow on trees! (apparently they grow in my mouth!) Now I am not a dentist, nor have I ever played one on T.V., but ask your dentist the difference when and if he tells you you need a night guard!

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 39

2011-09-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

Plant something- collards, radishes
Harvest something- Tomatoes, Lemon Cucumbers, hot peppers,leeks
Preserve something- Lemon Cucumber Refrigerator pickles; froze 1/2 pound of Chard
Community: Participated in our City's Lantern Festival at the community garden
Preparation: Starting to build a new more permanent "green house"
Eat the food/Try something new: Lemon Cucumber Refrigerator Pickles; leek and potato soup
Waste Not/Repair, Re-Use, Recycle- Reusing old lights as an art project; made some lanterns for lantern festival out of old water and soda bottles, typical recycling
Want not: Bought a Used Storm door from Second Use for my "more permanent" green house

Revisiting a favorite recipe... Portobello Parmesano

2011-09-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

Meatless Monday @ Midnight Maniac

I thought I would revisit some of my favorite recipes... this week my favorite vegetarian dish... Portobello Parmesano! Ciao Bella!

Not being a big fan of eggplant, or veal (Okay I lie, I love veal, just not how its raised- therefore I don't eat veal) I resorted to making Portobello Parmesan years ago. I saw it somewhere on TV. I like this as much as veal. Really!
(You can use Canned tomato sauce or fresh- it works either way)
4 portobello mushrooms
2 tablespoons of olive oil
Tomato Sauce either 1 jar canned or one and a half cups fresh sauce
1 cup of fresh, shredded Parmesan cheese
Heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet, the kind you can put in the oven. Remove the stem from the portabellos. Brown the portabellos on both sides when browned, dump the sauce on top, Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Then cover with Parmesan cheese. Put the whole pan in the oven at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until cheese is a bubbly brown. Serve

A Recipe for Fresh tomato sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
6 tomatoes, chopped
3 onions, minced
2 green bell peppers, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat; add tomatoes, onions, green bell peppers, garlic, salt and pepper to taste. Mix ingredients well; cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Garden A Glow

2011-09-12T00:01:00.000-07:00

This is our community garden-

This is our community garden on lantern power. Actually this is part of a community festival the Burien Arts A Glow Lantern Festival, and they asked we play a small part. It was fun lighting the garden, we haven't done it since the garden was a dream and all we had was a demo garden at the BIAS.

B-Patch from the frontOur Lullaby singerLights in the gardenMore lightsEven more!Garden from the side!

A visitor!

A fridge that uses no electricity!

2011-09-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

Crunchy- the answer to your fridge problems!

Recently, The Crunchy Chicken was lamenting about her GE Profile Refrigerator falling apart. Well, cheer up Crunchy… I got your back. Well actually, two frugal chicks and I got your back! Here is a video on making your own Flower Pot Cooler

Video Via Two Frugal Chicks and Lifehacker

Actually this is a great Idea for emergency situations. Because if there is a natural disaster, you want cold beer!

Earth Friendlier Pens and Pencils

2011-09-08T00:01:00.000-07:00

A little while back I reviewed Pilot’s B2P pens(The pens are made form recycled water bottles and are refillable.) Turns out there is a whole slew of writing utensils from different companies that are greener office/school supply alternatives:

Paper Mate’s Earthwrite pencil looks like a Regular pencil except that it’s made from 100% recycled wood.
Dixon -Ticonderoga skipped the wood altogether with their line of Renew pencils made from recycled tires.

Paper mate also has a great line of Pens that supposedly are biodegradeable, and made from upcycling products from Terra Cycle!

Zebra has an “Eco” Line where the pens are made from 75 to 85% consumer waste.

And don’t forget “Smencils” a line of pencils and pens made from 100% post consumer waste! And they will be coming out with a Halloween version soon - great alternative to candy for the little goblins!

Who knows... maybe someday it won't be a gimmick to sell every day items a little differently, and maybe someday common items made from "Upcycled" consumer waste will be the norm!

Arts-A-Glow!

2011-09-07T21:47:00.000-07:00

Looking for something fun to do this Saturday?

Fall planting... let the games begin!

2011-09-07T00:01:00.000-07:00

Beets... a great fall garden choice!

It's time to start planting those fall gardens

Radishes, basil, mustard greens and spinach each take as little as one month to mature, and can survive light frost.

Lettuce, Swiss chard, kale and collard greens take as few as 40 days, and the latter two can survive temperatures in the 20s.

Beets and cabbage take as much as two months to mature, but can survive temperatures in the 20s. And beets are a great fall crop!

Garlic and leeks can be planted now for harvest next summer. And you can plant garlic in a container...I have successfully planted it in 5 gallon buckets before! 2 or 3 cloves per bucket!

Check with your local garden supply store, or agricultural extension service for advice for varietals that will survive best in your climate. Buy or start seedlings to give yourself a head start if it's too late to plant from seed.

Unusual Mobile Gardens!

2011-09-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

You know the affinity I have for strange but cool little container gardens? Well seems I am not alone... Here are some of the most unusual container gardeners I have seen.
All photos Seen at Yahoo Green

A mobile garden assortment
Shopping cart trees
Yes, my plants are my babies!
A greenhouse on the back of a track
Strawberries in a laundry basket planter
Fielder Rushing's Truck garden!
Top drawer!
A community vehicle garden!
An idea if I can't sell my '66 Valiant
Even Cacti grow in a mobile garden
A garden on a boat? Shore, why not?

Ideas for recycling/reusing plastic shopping bags!

2011-09-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

Ahh The Plastic Shopping Bag... so convienient, so handy, So environmentally wrong. Unless you live in the Bay area, were local cities have banned them, or some other area where voters and politicians se the damage they do to the environment, what so you do with those little marvels of plastic engingeering?
While I believe in using Reusable bags for shopping, I have to be realistic. These bags get slipped into my life no matter how hard I try to use my shopping bag. And boy do they build up over time…
While most grocery stores collect old bags for recycling, some do not. So here are a few ideas for you to ReUse and ReCycle your own plastic bags…

ReUse your plastic Bags... Try taking them back to the store and re-using them! I even took one to Trader Joe's once and had a good laugh watching the clerk try to figure out how to use it!

Dog Parks- While I advocate the use of biodegradable poop bags, I also know that the dog parks (at least the ones in my area) are always in need of bags for the dirty job. The local one here has stations set up were you can just put the bags in for others to use. Great recycle use for produce and bread bags!

Librarys- check with your library if they need bags for the patrons to use.
Schools- many schools use these bags for Art projects. Check with your school.
Food Banks- Local food banks need bags for their patrons as well.

Local Thrift stores- if you have a thrift store, in particular a charity thrift store, ask them if they want your old shopping bags. They can re-use them for their customers.

Make a Rug out them- I am told you can strip the bags into 1” strips and start braiding them together to make ropes of material to make braided rugs. These would be good for by the door or in a mud room.

Make "plarn" out of them to make crocheted bags, maybe a rain coat!
Another "Plarn" Tutorial try using plarn to make your braided rugs, macrame, etc

Make a laptop case out of them

Fuse them together to make new reusable shopping bags, clothes whatever!:

I should be on Chopped...

2011-09-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

Chopped. that Food Network show were professional chefs are given a basket with 4 ingredients and their task is to come up with something good edible in very little time. Of course if I was on it I would be disqualified for calling host Ted Allen a douche bag. And probably at least two of the judges.
Anyway, in the used food store (Grocery Outlet) I discovered a half dozen glazed donuts for $1. So I went out to improve my Bread Pudding recipe. So after much thought, I present you with Donut Bread Pudding. It was either that or use them as hamburger buns for a Donut Bacon Cheese burger. And that is too much even for me!

Donut Bread Pudding
1/2 Dozen glazed donuts, crumbled
3 eggs
1/2 cup milk or skim milk
1/2 cup light brown Sugar
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 Tbsps. butter
In a Medium bowl, Beat eggs lightly. Add milk, crumbled donuts, brown sugar raisins and cinnamon and mix thoroughly, and pour into a 1 quart baking dish. Dot with butter and bake 40-45 minutes until firm and brown at 350 degrees. Top with a dollop of Whipped Cream if desired. Serves 6.

Nice Undies!!!

2011-09-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

Nothing says summer like a touch of beefcake! So here is a pic of me in my new Jockey "Stay Cool" Briefs.
Okay. I confess...
That pic is not me. Well, it's my face, not my body.
I am much tanner, and I don't wear "skinny" jeans. My legs are too muscular.
But I am enjoying the Stay Cool Underwear I won at Condo Blues Undies giveaway. I am really liking these briefs! Just a note: Lisa, when I am sitting around in nothing but my underwear, I will be thinking of you. If you aren't reading Condo Blues, you really should, besides great giveaways, she is fluent in Green speak, tool speak, Pirate speak and Peke speak.