I'm Glad The Holidays Are Behind Me.

Life can finally get back to normal again. Not that my life is ever normal. But you know what I mean. Our daughter heads back to Cuba, tomorrow, and I can reclaim my brewing room. I am anxious to play with my wine kits. Until then, I've been drinking up my closet wine. I just started working on the 4th and final jug. I think this wine is the best of the four. It's Cranberry Blend. It's beautiful and delicious. I'll have to make more of this, in the future.


Sundays are always the most relaxing day of my week. Today the husband and I went out to lunch with friends. We went back to the Harmon to sample more of their beers and to have the all-you-can-eat fish and chips. The chips are their signature garlic and Parmesan fries and the fish is cod. So good! I had the Pinnacle Peak Pale Ale which was also good. After lunch I stopped back into the UrbanXchange to see if the vintage Pendleton jacket was still there. I'd spied it last Sunday, but decided to get the purple wool coat, instead. I kicked myself all week for not grabbing them both. I have a weakness for wool. No need to worry, there was my jacket, waiting for me. It was marked at $20.99 because it was missing one of the cuff buttons. Not a problem. I know how to sew on a button. Here is my new (to me) jacket.


I also have a more current edition of this 49er style Pendleton jacket, and I have to tell you, the wool on this vintage jacket is about twice as thick as the new ones. Much better quality.

Beekeeping Decisions

There is so much to consider. Getting set up can be quite an expensive undertaking. Not that I mind that so much. But paying over $100 for bees, another $100 for a bee suit, and at least $100 for a hive, only to have the bees die or run off? I don't think I want to risk that right now. I am now thinking about building my own top bar hive and somehow capturing a swarm or finding another beekeeper who will part with a nuc. I'd love to find some good ol' hardy PacNW bees who need a loving home. I'm going to build the hive and then be patient until I am presented with an opportunity to host some bees.

Backyard Beekeeping

I am seriously considering getting a beehive set up in my backyard. Right now I am gathering information but I'll need to order my bees soon if I'm going to get started this spring. I am considering what type of hive to get. I am a small framed woman who will be maintaining the bees on my own. I am concerned about not being able to lift them. I may have to stick to shallow supers. We'll see. So much to learn.

First Bread With Spent Grains

Now that we are brewing our own beer we have lots of spent grains left over after sparging. I want to use them for more than chicken food. A friend mentioned using them to bake bread. Unfortunately the grains are rather woody and chewy, due to the hulls. I don't think I'd want to use too much of it in my bread, unless I dried it out and ran it through the grinder. But a small amount of spent grains would add some nice texture (like nuts) and some fiber. After our last batch of beer making I saved out one cup of the spent grains to add to this week's bread. Here is my regular bread recipe, but I substituted 1 cup of whole wheat flour for the unbleached flour, and added in a cup of the spent grains along with the flour. Now to see if the family eats it.

January's Expenditures

As part of my New Year's Resolutions I am going to start keeping track of how much I spend on things. I do have some bad habits, like buying far too many Americanos. But I am thrifty in other areas. A girl has to have her priorities. I will be updating this post, as the month progresses.

$10 small kitchen appliance - Craigslist (1-1-11)
$28.41 Anne Klein purple wool coat - UrbanXChange (1-2-11)
$4.46 Redneck Coffee Roaster (hot air popper) - Goodwill (1-3-11)
$35.65 Organic Nicaraguan Coffee, 5# - Amazon.com (1-3-11)
$32.02 Sumatra Mandheling Coffee, 5# - Amazon.com (1-3-11)
$21.81 Krups Coffeee Grinder - Amazon.com (1-3-11)
$6.74 Espressos - Perk Central (1-3-11)
$45 Reggie's Dog Grooming - The Bath House (1-3-11)
$21.77 Groceries - Safeway (1-3-11)
$3.50? Sink strainer - Home Depot (1-?-11)
$20 6 drilled plugs & a hydrometer beaker - Beer Essentials (1-4-11)
$22.94 Vintage Pendleton Jacket - UrbanXChange (1-9-11)
$2.46 New buttons for above jacket - Jo-Ann fabrics (1-10-11)
$16.35 Two Books on Bees - Half Price Books (1-10-11)
$33.45 Groceries - Safeway (1-10-11)
$23.11 New Glasses and Misc. - World Market (1-10-11)
$6.74 Espressos - Perk Central (1-?-11)
$4.09 groceries - Safeway (1-12-11)
$124.84 Bulk groceries - Costco (1-17-11)
$18.26 10# of 7 grain cereal - Marlene's (1-17-11)
$30.40 groceries - Safeway (1-18-11)
$20 Wine spoon & 6 bubblers - Beer Essentials (1-19-11)
$28.99 Bee book, calendar & coffee - Border's (1-20-11)
$65.16 Groceries - Safeway (1-23-11)
$6.74 Espressos - Perk Central (1-23-11)
$262.42 Bee Hive and Supplies - Mann Lake Ltd. (1-24-11)
$35 Thrift Store Bargains (1-31-11)
________________
Total for January 2011 = $930.31
Just Espressos = $20.22
Groceries = $297.97

Happy New Year

I hope everyone's holidays were happy. Mine were very nice and very busy. I haven't had a chance to sit down to the computer and make a proper blog post. But I am hoping to get an opportunity this weekend. In the meantime I'd like to jot down some of my resolutions, or goals, for 2011.

1. Make enough beer and wine to not have to purchase any commercially.
2. Learn to make wine from my own fruit (and fruit that others have too much of).
3. Grow all my vegetables from heirloom seeds.
4. Save seeds from 2011 to use in 2012.
5. Grow potatoes using last years' crop as seed.
6. Make enough soap to not have to purchase any from the store.
7. Dry more herbs.
8. Learn to make some artisan breads.
9. Organize the garage.
10. Continue my quest to declutter the house.
11. Continue my moratorium on new clothes. Only purchase new undies. All else will be from either yard sales, thrift stores, or Craigslist.
12. Only use cash (or debit card) for purchases. I have not charged anything in nearly a year.
13. Start roasting my own coffee. (added 1-2-11)

That's all I can think of at this time. Have you thought about changes you'll make this year?

Double Decker Bread Box

I found this adorable vintage bread box on Craigslist. It is made of tin, painted, and decorated with decals.


My plan is to store the butter dish in here, to keep it away from my butter licking cat. He's figured out how to knock the lid off the butter boat. This bread box has 2 levels. The bottom level, for the bread and butter.


And the top level for other baked goodies.


The second picture is closest to the actual color. We'll see if this thwarts my cat's evil plans. For $5 it was worth a try.