Saturday, August 19, 2017

Roma Tomato Spaghetti Sauce

An abundant yield from only three roma tomato plants continues. Today's harvest of 20 ripe beauties will become spaghetti sauce. I do not have a recipe for this, but here's what I did.

Peeled, de-cored, lengthwise halved, then quartered tomatoes and placed in an 8-quart 12" diameter pot to cook uncovered on medium heat (electric stove) until reduced to a medium thick consistency.






Success!

~K

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Pool Noodle-FlipFlops Whimsical Summer Wreath


Two pool noodles sliced into half-inch flowers - sharp butcher knife easily cut the noodle.
Wire coat hanger opened
Kids' FlipFlops
Two rolls duct tape - taped together to make double-sided ribbon

Six dollars spent at Dollar Tree makes two whimsical summer wreaths! ~~kab

Friday, January 10, 2014

Snow Days Rag Quilt with "enhanced rag binding"




A rag flannel quilt had been on my wish list of quilts to make for many months. My stash pile had 2 pairs of pj's, 4 flannel shirts, and 2 flannel lounge/pj bottoms just waiting for scissors and needle! I also had odds and ends of various loft batting saved. This quilt as you go project sounded cheap, fast, and easy; with everything on hand - unexpected days at home seemed the perfect time to tackle this fun project.
By the evening of the 3rd snow day I started cutting the clothing items into random length 5 inch rectangles - 5 inches only because it was the width of the ruler I use with my rotary cutter. Matched seams are not among my favorite things to do so the randomness would eliminate that issue.  It was so random that it was definitely a "figure it out as you go" project. The only quilting was by machine - an X from corner to corner - just eyeballed, not a drawn line.
Based on rag quilt images I saw online I thought the outer edges needed more than the single thickness fray from the quilt "block", but I didn't want a traditional binding.  So my trial and error rag binding began by cutting strips in two widths 3" and 1-3/4". With the right side of the 3" strip against the back of the quilt I attached it with a 1/4" seam. I then folded it to the front and placed the narrower fabric strip inside it for more bulk at the edge as well as additional fray. I then sewed a seam 3/4 inch from the edge.  
Too late I realized this still would not be enough fray along the edge to balance with the interior seams so I placed another narrow strip on top near the edge and sewed another 3/4" seam from the edge. 

Next time I will place this additional strip on top and just make the one seam instead of having to go back and add it. I considered putting both strips on top, but I like encasing the one strip to add stability to the outer edge.


After hours of snipping, hand brushing, shaking, and vacuuming - thank goodness for Fiskars spring-action micro tip scissors! My arthritic hands aren't what they used to be - just ask me about any hand-sewing lately! And to think I made my wedding dress, my husband's wedding suit, prom dresses, etc..... old age is...!

Then it was off to the laundromat on the fifth snow day of the week (seventh in a row) for that first washing and drying that yields way too much "bird nest making material" - those small threads seemed limitless. More shaking as it was removed from the washer; more shaking at the 1/2, 3/4, and final drying times also!  I picked up as many of the tiny threads as I could from the laundromat floor (I thought there might have been a broom somewhere I could have used - I know to take one the next time I "finish" a rag quilt).


Softness, "plump" outer edge "binding", visually appealing - I am quite pleased with the final result and my "stash" is smaller.  Making this rag quilt and developing its enhanced binding was a great way to minimize the severe case of cabin fever I had been developing!!

FYI
  • final size = 52" x 55" 
  • cheap? - yes! only money spent was $3 at the laundromat
  • fast? - reasonably - especially since it was completed within one cancelled school week! - I probably spent about 30 hours working on it in total (cutting, designing, clipping, brushing, laundering)
  • easy? - amazingly easy
  • husband says I should call this "KAB binding" - he knows I use my 3 initials a lot
  • final steps to any project
    • refill bobbins - you never know when time and creativity will happen
    • clean the sewing machine - I "dust" after every 4 bobbins - not only do I know the sound of a machine in need of cleaning/oiling, but so does my husband (when he says it's starting to sound like a helicopter a cleaning is in order) LOL!

  ~~K

Monday, December 9, 2013

Pretzels from Scratch

Finally! For years I've thought about making pretzels from scratch - today's snow/ice school cancellation day ended up being the day.

Mixed by hand, then 5 minutes with Kitchen Aid dough hook set at 4.


Divided into 8 somewhat equal chunks.

Hardest step - rolling into strips that were supposed to be 28-30 inches long!
Shaping and soaking in baking soda water.
Baked at 475 degrees F for 7 minutes - not according to the recipe but I know the quirks of my oven after too many burnt adventures! Picture taken before butter coating.
I think even the bottoms look nice!

Recipe source: 
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/hot-buttered-soft-pretzels-recipe
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/hot-buttered-soft-pretzels-recipe




~~K


Sunday, July 28, 2013

Rainbow to Home

Unseasonable weather (cold and rain) preceded our departure from Saugatuk!  Despite the wet roads our drive home presented us with a wonderful rainbow!

~~K

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Windchimes


Windchimes have become the featured items in the outdoor pine room.  To see the expression of even one-year-olds as they grab and shake the sails to make "music" is priceless!
 
 

Many have been received as gifts, others handcrafted, and some recycled.  For the children to fully experience and enjoy them interactively, I did add sails to most of the chimes that are easily within reach from their small stature as they walk through the boughs.

To extend the kid's joy to their own homes, I decided to make inexpensive (less than $4 each), non-tuned wind chimes. Here goes:

3/4" EMT 10' conduit - $5 from local hardware - 2 chime tubes cut 12", 14", 16", 18" (no waste)
2 small metal trays - $0.50 each from local thrift store
2 small metal candle holders - $0.50 each from local thrift store
2 wooden medalions - $0.29 each from local craft store
Flat black and clear spray paint - on hand 
50 lb monofilament fishing line - on hand
25 lb waterproof braided nylon bait casting line - on hand

After cutting the conduit with a small pipe cutter I drilled 1/8" holes through the diameter of each tube 2" from an end.  I then used a file and steel wool to smooth the cuts and coated them with a clear finish spray in hopes of delaying rust.

Two 1/8" holes were drilled in the center of the candle holders (future strikers and sail holders); one at the top of each wooden medalion (future sails); and 10 in the trays to be used as caps (8 for suspending tubes and 2 for the chime hanger). These were then spray painted black for rust protection and appearance (obviously any/various colors would also be acceptable).

The tubes were connected to the cap with 24" lengths of braided nylon. The striker was attached to the cap with a 32" length of braided nylon and the sail was attached to the striker with a 36" length of braided nylon.  For a more durable hanger, a 36" length monofilament was used. As with most windchimes left out in the elements year round, I anticipate having to restring these windchimes periodically (just part of yard maintenance)!

Surprisingly, the sound of these chimes is quite melodic and pleasant considering the tubes were cut only from the standpoint of making two windchimes with no waste!  One of these days I should try to make myself an 8-tube tuned windchime. ~~K

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Bike to Work

Living so close to school encourages me to bike it in the summer - traffic is too crazy and scary for me during an actual school day!

It's a pleasant short ride as long as the wind isn't too fierce!

One Way Distance - I use Map My Run for recording bike rides, runs, and walks.

This morning a sheriff's deputy (who I frequently see at school) pulled up beside me and jokingly said, "I'll need to cite you for speeding. I just clocked you at 16 mph." Joking aside, the 16 mph is true. ~~K