Friday, July 30, 2010

Ode to the Vending Machine


Dear vending machine,

I think it's time that we called it quits. It's not you; it's me. We just aren't meant for one another. I thought maybe we could just be friends, but really, I think it's best if we make it a clean break. Please do not call or write. I'm not good for you, and clearly you are not good for me. I'd prefer it if you left the building entirely, but it seems as though we are going to have to learn to work together as professionals and not as partners. I hope that this doesn't cause you as much pain as it causes me.

Kind regards,
Lauren

Sunday, July 18, 2010

I am master of my yarn


I've been knitting since I was about 8. I'm a combination of mom-taught and self-taught, and to date haven't completed anything that wasn't square or rectangular (i.e. scarves, blankets, and shawls). My tension is impeccable (I flatter myself). I am resigned that I'm meant to be a knitter of quality, but not variety. Make that WAS resigned. Because I can now confidently count this--let's face it--adorable baby sweater among my knitting inventory:
20+ years of fearing increases and yarn overs and bobbles and all for naught-because this wasn't that bad. You Tube is a beautiful thing. Want to try this yourself? Props to Arcadia Knitting for providing me with a relatively simple pattern. I may just have to crank out five more of these guys for the craft fair this year.....


Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Churning day is highly overrated


I have a serious desire to milk a cow. With no room for a cow pasture in my yard (and the likelihood of serious backfire from my landlady), I'm at the disposal of the back wall of my local grocery store. However, with fresh inspiration from the Learn and Grow tent at the Glenwood Sunday Market in tow, I figured if I can't milk a cow I can at least enjoy the old fashioned joys of making my own supplementary dairy products: butter, yogurt and cheese.

Operation: butter
Status: fail

Either Laura Ingalls was extremely patient AND buff, or I did something wrong. I was meticulous in my choice of half and half (pasteurized, not ultra pasteurized), waited until the cream reached 72 degrees, poured into a mason jar and shook. and shook. And got tired and put it in the kitchen aid mixer. Fifteen minutes later and a seriously hot motor on my mixer and although little butter chunklets did form I simply can't imagine that 1-1/2 cups of cream only yields a teaspoon of butter. I am defeated. But not discouraged! I shall live to churn another day.