my garden

When I got back from my travels, I did not know what I would return to in my garden.

I think abundance is the right word.  There is spinach and amaranth that can be picked.  There are so many flowers.

The flowers definitely make me smile!  I have not picked many because everyday I have been weeding and enjoy them while I am in the garden.  I did bring one inside today because it had come off in the weeding but that is about it.

I keep transplanting vegetable plants so they will have more room.  Every time, I hope the plant will make it.  So far, so good.  But there has been rain everyday which has helped.  

There is a lot of peace in the weeding.  Any time I get anxious, having my hands in the dirt lowers the anxiety a lot.  It has been six months of risks and strange curves on the road.  I am still on that path and sometimes it just causes me to be anxious.  The weeding helps.  It is food I can see that will be coming to the table.  It is flowers that just bring joy.

More dirt time is needed.  Especially in my new overalls!  I get so dirty and I track mud so well.  The overalls have been protecting me better from insects as well so life is pretty good.

back from travels

I am back from my travels.  End of March, I always try to take a trip.  It is time for some camping when it may not be so cold as well as to celebrate another year.  This year, it also meant taking Koda Bear back to the Tall Short Person.  So we adventured and did not move as fast as normal. 

We saw a lot of desert.

I told stories about dancing Saguaro cactus.  I pointed out a roadrunner and then got asked if every bird was a roadrunner.  We listened to coyotes sing.

We set up our tent and pulled out sleeping bags for the nights.  

Koda Bear met other kids and played.  I watched them, watched the sky, read a book.  I think he has a favorite park now.

We even drove through the snow falling.  The trees covered with snow is a photograph from Koda Bear.  

The two of us travel well together.  We both like to travel.  We both are game for another night in a tent.  I was told we needed to go to Alaska and to go to see totem poles.  I was game but that was definitely not part of the plan.  Maybe next year?  

The funny thing, is when we stop and unpack, we both nest very well.  It is hard to get us to move off our small plot of land.  But get us packed and moving?  We will not stop until we have too.  The question always comes up, where will we put up the tent tonight?  

The drive back by myself was not as fun.  But pretty.  I just did not have the help of taking pictures.  And I have seen that road many times.  There was still snow on the mountains but none falling from the sky.  I got back to lands where I did not need a sweater or a coat anymore.  How strange.  I am getting settled again.

Soon, it will be hard to pry me out of my house or from my garden for errands around town.  But if there is a tent or an adventure involved. . .  I am game!

baked fish and chips (really veg)

We eat a lot of fish and chips.  The Bear likes it a lot.  But he actually likes baked fish and roasted veg.  Sometimes he wants chips and then I roast a few potatoes as well.  The question was asked if I could try making the fish instead of buying packaged fish.  There was a nytimes.com recipe I wished to try for fish and chips.  The Bear said sure!

Except for convenience, I do not believe I will be purchasing breaded fish in the future.  I have made these twice so far and both times were good.  I tweaked the recipe a bit for what was in my kitchen and to our tastes, but no one seemed upset.  The Bear likes white fish best.  He is not too picky whether it is halibut or cod.  I like the salmon but he did not.  

Oh well.

I start the dinner with getting the veg in the oven.  By the time the veg is done, the fish is done.  I do a bit of preplanning though with the bread crumbs.  I do not buy store bought bread crumbs so I need four slices of sourdough bread to go stale or make it stale before I start this process.  And defrosted fish is a plus but not necessary.  I would take the fish out before I start the veg.

baked fish (and chips or veg)

Note:  I tweaked a nytimes.com recipe.  The link is above.

3 filets of white fish, skin removed.  Cut into strips

4 slices of stale, dry sourdough bread, made into bread crumbs

2 teaspoons basil

1 teaspoon salt 

1 teaspoon pepper

2 eggs

3 tablespoons mustard

1 cup flour

2 tablespoons olive oil plus a bit more for oiling the oven rack

salt and pepper, optional

Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (This is what I roast veg and potatoes at.  I just add in the fish).

Oil the oven rack you are going to put the fish on.  Put the rack over a sheet pan.

In a skillet, warm 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat.  Add the bread crumbs, basil, salt, and pepper.  Stir occasionally until brown.

While the bread crumbs are browning, cut the fish filets into strips.  Salt and pepper if you wish.

In one bow, put a cup of flour.  In another bowl, mix the mustard and eggs together.

Dredge the fish in the flour.

The dredge it in the egg mixture.

Dredge it in the bread crumb mixture.  This was still warm in my kitchen, so be careful!

Put is on the oven rack.  Continue until all the fish are coated.

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until the fish is tender.

I have a happy Koda Bear.  He will eat that whole plate in the first picture.  I swear he is growing!

I am going to be off adventuring for the next couple of weeks.  The Bear and I have places to go.  I may post on Instagram.  I may not.

dressing gown

After updating my nightgown pattern and style, I started to wish for a dressing gown.  Part of it was due to the linen that I chose for the nightgown.  It was not very heavy.  But the style of the nightgown is such that I have a tendency to live in it a bit in the morning.  It is really more of a simple dress pattern.  I am so not surprised.

But due to the lightness of the linen, I just needed something for a bit of warmth.  A sweater could be an option but most sweaters are falling apart and I have not replaced them.  I wanted something that I could wrap around myself and would be as long as the nightgown.  I became obsessed with having a dressing gown.  I took out the nightgown pattern, which is a dress pattern, and a kimono pattern and got to work.

I also had a few interruptions.  Koda Bear is learning to sew on my sewing machine.  I hopefully hide how anxious this makes me.  Both due to his fingers and the age of my machine.  He asks about every time I sit down to sew.  I usually have to finish a seam but then I let him.  I am going to need to set aside fabric for random stitching.

With all the help, I have a dressing gown.  This picture was taken early in my wearing of it.  I find that I do not tie it as tightly any more.  I usually tie it at the side and it looks more like a kimono, flowing vest style.  The weight of the linen is nice because it is heavier.

It is just a garment that pleases me.  I would not mind finding more of the linen for a regular day dress either.  Or a nightgown.  But I think this is more due to the lines of dressing gown and the colour.  It really speaks to me.  I wear it everyday.  It is nice say that about something you make.  But that means I will wear it out which is also frustrating.  

But that is life.

sorting

I have been looking at my workspaces and realized I needed to do some sorting.  It is not very creative but it helps me find what I need to find.  Like squares for quilts.  Or patches for bear's knees.  Or the backing for a quilt.  Or the makings of a market bag.  Or . . .  Just makings.

I filled an old wooden box I had.  My Dad gave it to me.  It was his when I was small.  I do not remember what he used it for but I took markers to it and made it into a dollhouse for my doll Sarah.  I wanted a dollhouse but knew it was not going to happen.  This was my solution.  

I obviously still have the box.  I was making due even when I was small which just makes me smile.  Now, my dollhouse is fabric storage.  Not my only but my ultimate goal is to fit all my fabric into four plastic bins and this box.  I know that is a huge undertaking but that is the goal.  I wonder how many quilts and market bags will be made between now and then.  Let alone shirts, vests, dresses, and nightgowns.  It will be interesting.