These days I mostly try not to write. My life is so full of work and family and weeding. But every now and then, my brain starts to itch and the only way to scratch that itch is writing. This is where you will find my most recent scratchings.
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DIY Crafting Vacation
We’re going to spend three weeks with Hubby’s folks for xmas, in Spokane WA. They have offered us a three week vacation from (a lot of the work of) parenting. Now, me and The Mother In Law get along shockingly well. But, three weeks in anyone else’s house is rough. She says, kindly, “You won’t have to clean or cook or anything. Just relax. Read. Nap. Or whatever.” Too bad. That’s just not me. Reading is great, and I will doubtlessly enjoy a few days with some good book. But I ain’t gonna lay up with no three weeks worth…
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An All-American Weekend at the Beach
We took an impromptu road trip last weekend. Instead of having a quiet Thanksgiving at home, we took those four days and drove to the beach! It was fun, and a real eye opener into America. I grew up in Alaska, with hippie parents, in an always-under-construction quanset hut. So, my view of America is skewed. Even this move has been to a bubble. A bubble of green-ness, where everyone shops at whole foods, and sets their recycling out once every other week. A quaint part of town with old quirky houses, little shops, a neighborhood feel. It’s good, I…
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15 Minute DIY Camp Stove
Okay. Let’s get this straight. First off, I sure didn’t invent the idea. I saw a more refined version of this stove when Erin and Hig of Ground Truth Trekking passed through Cordova en route from Puget Sound to the Bering Sea by foot (and pack raft). Though I found it hard to believe, they claimed to have used this stove the whole way, burning only twigs to boil water in just 10 or 15 minutes. Often with wet wood! Secondly, although I have been intending to make a tin can version of their stove ever since I saw it,…
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Ruby Fruit Jungle
Just took my morning put-the-Babe-to-sleep walk. We peruse the neighborhoods looking for adventure, morning sun, and trash. I’ve found some good stuff lately, maybe people are doing closet clean-outs to prepare for the holiday’s influx of new junk. That’s fine. I’ll take their old junk. Found a very nice large laundry hamper sized wicker basket this morning. When I pulled it out, I assumed there would be a broken spot, or at least the wicker pulling out somewhere. But no, it’s in perfect condition. Beautiful. But what’s really got the fire going under my kettle is the grapefruit tree! First…
calamity jane 