juicing

i've been juicing.

i don't really know why, but i just am.

maybe i am on the juicing bandwagon or maybe i just want to be healthier.

but, after trying it a few times without a juicer and using the food processor then straining the juice thru a cheesecloth, i decided to steal back my juicer i lent lauren 100 years ago. praise jesus she still had it and WASN'T using it :) they purchased a way better one and just stored mine. true friend = someone that won't be offended when you want something back :)

i started using Kirstin's recipe, then got brave and was making up stuff. i have loved the carrot, beet, apple combo, but freak out everytime i pee, thinking i am bleeding TO DEATH. but then i remember it's the beets.
anyways, i feel like i have more energy, which is good.
word.

cashmere blanket II

here's the full thing

this is the back fabric

you can see small rectangles of white thread

these are my quiltings

but they also secure the front rectangles in place

see here

front rectangle

love it.

cashmere blanket

cashmere goat

don't you want to be friends with him?

since i can't cuddle him in real life...

i will make a blanket of his wool.

shouldn't all our clothes be made of this stuff?

-

-

anywho

-

i used this book

Sewing Green

the instructions are super simple

but here's the low-down

-

get some cashmere sweaters at the thrift store

wash them in hot water

dry them

deconstruct them...

pretty much just cut them to yeild the largest amt of fabric

-

the blanket is going to be roughly 45"x60"

so, i think i had 4-5 womens sweaters

(pullovers yeild the most useable amt)

-

then cut them into 15" wide pieces of varying lengths

-

piece together

-

sew

-

then pick a backing

-

i got 2 yards, and had lots leftover

-

mine was a sweatery material on sale at joanne's for like $2/yd

-

place the right sides together, and sew 3 sides

-

and part of the 4th side,

turn right side out,

the stitch the hole closed

and then "quilt" the areas desired.

this was without the back sewn on,

but i did it i promise.

oh i also added little rectangles of fabric

randomly, like in the first picture.

i did this after sewn together, and made it part of the quilting.

-

now i have a super soft, cuddly blanket!

and since we pre-washed it, it's totally machine washable!!!!

dying fabric

well....

the combo of hans, schnooze, and cam =

muy mal for my awesome

PB comforter

the one we got for our wedding

*from laura haws's momma and daddy

is discontinued

but this is kinda close

it was cream colored and so lovely.

but now there are stains all over

and rips

and it's shredding on the edges.

-

so cam and i decided with christmas money

we will pick a new one out.

but to make it last a little longer... i decided to dye it!!!
-

-

dying with RIT dye goes by poundage of fabric.

i had about 9lbs

but i knew i wanted grey.

but the grey they had was too light.

so i went with 1 bottle of black (for 2lbs)

and 1 box of pearl grey (for 1lb)

-

i followed the directions

for the washer

-

and it came out perfect.

the fabric is velvet on one side

and silky on the other...

the velvety side looks slightly purple, but i like it :)

the little white places are where there are holes :)

lovely.

RTD

i have just recently discovered RTD
Regional Transportation District.
(i always thought it was Ride Through Denver)
(doesn't that make more sense anyway???)
Anyway, for an eco-pass which means I can ride any thing, bus, lightrail, skyride...
it was $26.
and for normal people that don't get the eco-pass from their job at this amazing rate,
it would be HUNDREDS of dollars. AT least $300.
cameron gets it free from school.
so we will be using RTD all the time.
I used it to go to a neuro conference Friday, and i felt so cool.
we used it to ride to church today and it was great!
there is a station 3-4 blocks from our house!!!!

garden update

cameron went on a 24 mile mtb ride with his friend joe

he ran into a tree, and it cut his jacket & arm

and when he fell he cut his leg too

but he'll survive

eww

-

-

garden update

butternut squash!!!

isnt it cute

acorn squash!!!!!

another acorn squash

fresno chilis

tomatoes turning RED!

see all the cherry tom's turning red?!?!?!?
*they usually don't even make it inside, b/c i eat them as i pick them

tomatillo!!!!

pumpkin, turning from green to yellow (to hopefully orange)

another pumpkin

california poppy

some flower that is cute

flowers that i love
they just make me happy

cosmos (i know what they are now)

*i like this pic b/c you can see my shadow in the background

they are over 6 feet tall!!!!!

*the tallest i have seen throughout denver

(everyone plants these b/c they are so great in CO)

cam's homemade trellis for his watermelons and cantelopes

canning with momma

momma came to visit friday-sunday!

it was so great!

Friday we went to cherry creek mall (anthropologie)

then to eat at Sushi Den

then we sat out on the porch talking until MIDNIGHT!

-

-

Saturday we called sus, talked for a bit.

then i took her to my work to meet all my friends

then went to fancy tiger, whole foods, target,

then her bday present: pedicures at a Nail Bar

it was so nice!

then we ran a few more errands

and came home.

we ate dinner at Spicy Basil (me and cam's fav.)

then we canned veggies (see below)

-

momma
me and mom

cans and lids cleaned

orka and green beans cut and washed

mom boiling the jars (they have to be hot)

after the jars are stuffed and "juice" is poured in

us canning away

pouring the liquid in the jar

(mom with her 2 oven mits on :))

jars getting hot

mom excited to be canning :)

some of the finished product!

pickled green beans, pickled okra, picked cucumbers, picked zucchini (that was the only homegrown thing that made it in, i didn't grow anything else).
(beans and okra from farmers market though)

(oh and the dill is from my garden)

canning was a blast!!!

can't wait to eat em.

-

-

Sunday we slept in,

went to the farmers market

then ate breakfast at monas

(as Lucielles was too packed)

then took momma to the airport.

mom and her "grand-dog"

it was such a fun visit!

we made a care package for sus,

and had so much fun having girl time!

can't wait for you to come again mom!!!!

garden bliss

it's been in the 90's all week

(i know i know, all you OK and TX people are thinking i am nuts)

finally

and so things are growing like nuts!

cameron with his garden

the canteloups on left, watermelons on right

the one watermelon is going nuts, it doubled overnight!

(the bricks are to heat the ground up more)

our first pumpkin!!!!

and i ran inside, freaking out and told cameron i was soooo excited,
and he said, "did lauren have the baby"?
which i thought was sooooo sweet,
NO, I SAY: i have a red tomato!!!!!!
i actually saw 2.
i am so pumped, hopefully i can make some salsa when momma gets here
(friday!!!!)