Baking and jam making

I was puttering around the kitchen the other day and saw that I had some fruit that was looking a bit sketchy. The only thing I know to do with fruit at the end of it's life is bake with it or make jam. I decided to do both. I made muffins with the apples that were starting to look wizened and then while they were baking I cut up the apricots languishing in the fridge and added them to the last of the blueberries and cooked them down on the stove until I had a tart and tasty jam. I didn't worry about sealing the jar as I knew I'd been consuming the entire thing in just a few days and it was particularly tasty on the fresh muffins.

At my desk

My sewing machine inexplicable arrived broken at my new apartment. I have no explanation for this as it was working just fine a few days before. I spent two hours taking everything apart and oiling every gear I could find to no avail. I was left with the unsettling feeling that I was going to have to purchase a new machine. My first every after a lifetime of family pieces and vintage hand-me-downs.
Shopping for expensive and fancy tools is no fun. I am no good at making decisions and agonize over every different thing. Luckily my hand was a bit forced in that there was a brief and very generous sale at Joanne fabrics which, coupled with free shipping, made it impossible for me to put off this choice. This is my new fancy, automatic threading, fancy stitch sewing machine.

 I'm a bit uncomfortable with a computerized machine, it has much more things which could go wrong but for now I'm just trying to learn how it works, and get to know it's quirks. I've named her Nina after the project runway judge Nina Garcia (who is tiny and fierce as well and very into garments being well constructed) and I am hoping this will bestow any future sewing with good favor. Now I just need to get down to it and begin working through the pile of sewing projects that's been piling up at one corner of my desk.

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Just working on some hand sewing projects. Unfortunately these are totally making me crave the real thing!

Infused cocktails

Back when I was working at a bar I had to come up with new cocktails constantly. I found that the easiest and most foolproof method was infusing liquor. There are three parts; a large glass jar, a bunch of fruit, and liquor. Oh and time. You take your jar and fill it with cut fruit and then booze (enough to cover the fruit) and then you seal it tightly and store it in a cool dark place for a few days or longer. The liquor will take on the colors of the fruit the longer it sits. When you feel it's ready you strain out the fruit and enjoy. Miraculously the liquor will take on a lot of flavor from the fruit, particularly the more juicy fruits like melons and stone fruits (peaches, nectarines, plums). Pineapples are also fantastic. Even herbs and vegetables can be used. Mint and basil are lovely (though they should stay in for much shorter times to avoid becoming super bitter) Often nothing is needed but a garnish, though the infused liquor is also very tasty mixed with some St Germain or Chambord, or topped with a sparkling soda. There are endless possibilities and so many opportunities for yummy experimentation. 

At my desk

I had some really comfortable wedge shoes. Riveting beginning of a story, I know. Anyway, these shoes were super comfortable but the wedges were an unappealing faux cork pattern that always made me put them back on the shelf. I decided since I already wasn't wearing them there was no harm in a bit of experimenting. So I painted the wedge portion black. But that wasn't interesting enough so I decided to add some of the geometric doodles I've been doing recently.

And they turned out pretty darn neat. I know it's not the most practical way to spend two hours but I've worn them twice already and I only used things I already had lying around so it seems like a good use of time to me. I mean, after all, shoes are very important!

about my papa

People say I look exactly like my mother and while we are both loud and we talk and gesture with alarming similarity, I have always felt I looked more like my Papa.
When I was little my papa built our house and he has built beautiful custom furniture for every dorm room and apartment I've lived in. All of my organization and "I can make that" attitude comes from Papa, as well as my love of hardware stores. Ever day as I sit at my desk (which he made for me to my custom measurements so it would perfectly fit all my paper and scissors and brushes) I am thankful for him.

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It's almost the weekend and it's gloriously sunny here (park here I come!) I passed this flamingo at the hardware store the other day and it took all my willpower not to take him home with me. Can't imagine what I'd do with a lawn flamingo but I totally wanted it!!!! Of course I don't have a lawn so that might be a problem...