BBC News - Watch the royal wedding live online
It's pretty cool that I can sit here, partially tipsy on my couch in Seattle, watching a live feed of what's happening in Westminster Abbey right now.
Also, between the wedding and the Kentucky Derby next week, it's a good time for millinery. Also also, I like that there are different words for hat-making and they're both fun. Haberdashery is a tad more enjoyable to say, though.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Make A Cheap & Easy Solar USB Charger With An Altoids Tin
Make A Cheap & Easy Solar USB Charger With An Altoids Tin : TreeHugger
Altoids aren't vegan, but Trader Joe's sells a knockoff type that has a similar sort of tin. It may work?
Buying in bulk and selling them for cheap might be nice, or they'd make good gifts for eco-minded friends.
I picked up a bunch of dried bamboo today and I'll be going back to get more. I hope I manage to complete projects with these a little faster than those pallets I picked up 9 months ago that are still sitting in my driveway. Le sigh.
Altoids aren't vegan, but Trader Joe's sells a knockoff type that has a similar sort of tin. It may work?
Buying in bulk and selling them for cheap might be nice, or they'd make good gifts for eco-minded friends.
I picked up a bunch of dried bamboo today and I'll be going back to get more. I hope I manage to complete projects with these a little faster than those pallets I picked up 9 months ago that are still sitting in my driveway. Le sigh.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Working Best at Coffee Shops - Conor Friedersdorf - Business - The Atlantic
Working Best at Coffee Shops - Conor Friedersdorf - Business - The Atlantic
I've noted this before. Coffeeshops have just enough distraction and noise that I'm forced to blare music over headphones and really focus. I can crank out so much in a short amount of time.
Plus I can't procrastinate as easily. I'm never sure if my internet browsing or Google reader feed will serve up something embarrassing, risque or NSFW that others might glimpse and judge me by. I'm also not about to watch a TV show instead of working.
Matt swears he can only work in libraries sometimes. I think it may also have something to do with always working with music in the background. I can't work in silence. It drives me crazy. I'm hyperaware of every sound I make, every click of my keyboard. Each minor change in the environment pulls me out of my focus. At a noisy coffeeshop full of banging portafilters and music and people laughing, I'm in my focus until someone specifically grabs my attention. Either that or until I'm out of coffee and go to drink an empty cup several times. That's how deep in I am.
On an unrelated note, it's a beautiful sunny day. I know I shouldn't garden because I'll be doing some of that the next couple of days, but damn, I want to go play in the dirt.
I've noted this before. Coffeeshops have just enough distraction and noise that I'm forced to blare music over headphones and really focus. I can crank out so much in a short amount of time.
Plus I can't procrastinate as easily. I'm never sure if my internet browsing or Google reader feed will serve up something embarrassing, risque or NSFW that others might glimpse and judge me by. I'm also not about to watch a TV show instead of working.
Matt swears he can only work in libraries sometimes. I think it may also have something to do with always working with music in the background. I can't work in silence. It drives me crazy. I'm hyperaware of every sound I make, every click of my keyboard. Each minor change in the environment pulls me out of my focus. At a noisy coffeeshop full of banging portafilters and music and people laughing, I'm in my focus until someone specifically grabs my attention. Either that or until I'm out of coffee and go to drink an empty cup several times. That's how deep in I am.
On an unrelated note, it's a beautiful sunny day. I know I shouldn't garden because I'll be doing some of that the next couple of days, but damn, I want to go play in the dirt.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Why I hate Mountaintop Removal
NASA Satellite Photos Show Coal Mining Destroy a Mountain Range Over 25 Years : TreeHugger
Really, people? Really? You suck.
Really, people? Really? You suck.
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Monday, April 04, 2011
Mental disaster kit
The earthquake kit: How to unpack for a disaster and survive the unexpected | Grist
Also an interesting take on disasters. Some of this is new to me and needed to be said. Nice.
Also an interesting take on disasters. Some of this is new to me and needed to be said. Nice.
Gardening!
40 Gardening Tips to Maximize Your Harvest - Organic Gardening - MOTHER EARTH NEWS
Once my check arrives and I can get some compost and stuff, I'm on this shizz. Got some free seeds from a buddy and a friend to help me do prep. I just need to finish job applications and y'know, actual job work things.
Once my check arrives and I can get some compost and stuff, I'm on this shizz. Got some free seeds from a buddy and a friend to help me do prep. I just need to finish job applications and y'know, actual job work things.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Oh Snap!
Someone indeed just got told.
Work-safe, but loud.
Pakistani Actress Defies Mullah Accusing Her of Immoral Behavior on an Indian Reality TV Show
Work-safe, but loud.
Pakistani Actress Defies Mullah Accusing Her of Immoral Behavior on an Indian Reality TV Show
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Green Renters
Green Renters
(via Treehugger)
A much-needed site, but it looks like it's in process and still has some major coding and navigation issues. Unfortunate that it's based in Australia, but I'm sure most of the info is still relevant.
Click on the room in the house illustration at the top of the page for a list of related articles. I'll have to read this at another time, when it's not 2 a.m.
(via Treehugger)
A much-needed site, but it looks like it's in process and still has some major coding and navigation issues. Unfortunate that it's based in Australia, but I'm sure most of the info is still relevant.
Click on the room in the house illustration at the top of the page for a list of related articles. I'll have to read this at another time, when it's not 2 a.m.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Menu for the last couple of days
For posterity!
Lentil Shepherd's Pie
I sort of made this up based on several recipes and didn't measure as I went along. Doing the best I can from memory. Serves 8? It's a lot of dense food. Tastes even better the next day.
6 russet potatoes, cubed
2 tsp vegetable oil
1 large onion, roughly chopped
1 Tbsp minced garlic (3-4 large cloves)
2 cups frozen veggies (I used peas and corn)
1 Tbsp thyme
1 Tbsp paprika
1 tsp black pepper
3 cups cooked lentils
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil (or 1/4 tsp liquid smoke)
3 Tbsp margarine, plus extra
1/4 cup unsweetened plain soymilk, plus extra
salt and pepper to taste
1. Bring large pot to a boil and put potatoes in for 18-20 minutes, until a piece crumbles when you try to put a fork in it.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil on medium-high in a large pan. Sautee onions about 5 mins, until translucent. Add garlic and frozen veggies, cook 5 mins. Mix in spices, then add lentils and cook 5 mins. Reduce heat to medium-low and mix in soy sauce and sesame oil.
3. The potatoes will be almost done - CAREFULLY use a ladle to scoop out some hot water and add to lentil mixture. Keep adding until there is some spare liquid, enough to seem like a gravy. (You can also just dissolve 1/2 tsp corn starch in hot water instead.)
4. Preheat oven to 400.
5. When potatoes are done, drain well. Return to pot and immediately add margarine and soymilk. When the margarine melts, mash until there are no more lumps - if it seems dry, add splashes of soymilk and mix until you get the texture you want. Add salt and pepper to taste.
6. Pour lentil mixture into deep 2.5 quart casserole dish and top with mashed potatoes. Use a fork to draw lines in the top and dot with margarine (optional).
7. Bake for 30 minutes or until the top of the potatoes start to brown.
Strawberry Cobbler! Except I only had 6 cups of fresh strawberries (sliced) so I added 2 cups of frozen blueberries from last season. Oh, and went light on the sugar in the topping. I used a mystery flour (thanks Joni) so the topping looks different than the ones on the website.
Next up: Olive Lentil burgers as we have olives, lentils and mushrooms to use up.
Lentil Shepherd's Pie
I sort of made this up based on several recipes and didn't measure as I went along. Doing the best I can from memory. Serves 8? It's a lot of dense food. Tastes even better the next day.
6 russet potatoes, cubed
2 tsp vegetable oil
1 large onion, roughly chopped
1 Tbsp minced garlic (3-4 large cloves)
2 cups frozen veggies (I used peas and corn)
1 Tbsp thyme
1 Tbsp paprika
1 tsp black pepper
3 cups cooked lentils
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil (or 1/4 tsp liquid smoke)
3 Tbsp margarine, plus extra
1/4 cup unsweetened plain soymilk, plus extra
salt and pepper to taste
1. Bring large pot to a boil and put potatoes in for 18-20 minutes, until a piece crumbles when you try to put a fork in it.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil on medium-high in a large pan. Sautee onions about 5 mins, until translucent. Add garlic and frozen veggies, cook 5 mins. Mix in spices, then add lentils and cook 5 mins. Reduce heat to medium-low and mix in soy sauce and sesame oil.
3. The potatoes will be almost done - CAREFULLY use a ladle to scoop out some hot water and add to lentil mixture. Keep adding until there is some spare liquid, enough to seem like a gravy. (You can also just dissolve 1/2 tsp corn starch in hot water instead.)
4. Preheat oven to 400.
5. When potatoes are done, drain well. Return to pot and immediately add margarine and soymilk. When the margarine melts, mash until there are no more lumps - if it seems dry, add splashes of soymilk and mix until you get the texture you want. Add salt and pepper to taste.
6. Pour lentil mixture into deep 2.5 quart casserole dish and top with mashed potatoes. Use a fork to draw lines in the top and dot with margarine (optional).
7. Bake for 30 minutes or until the top of the potatoes start to brown.
Strawberry Cobbler! Except I only had 6 cups of fresh strawberries (sliced) so I added 2 cups of frozen blueberries from last season. Oh, and went light on the sugar in the topping. I used a mystery flour (thanks Joni) so the topping looks different than the ones on the website.
Next up: Olive Lentil burgers as we have olives, lentils and mushrooms to use up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)