Easter Eggs Made with Natural Dyes

I dyed Easter eggs using natural dyes recently after seeing the process here.  I found it on Pinterest originally.  If you've noticed I haven't posted many blog posts lately, you can blame it on Pinterest.  I spend way too much time looking around.  If you are on Pinterest and wish to "follow" my pins, my boards are at http://pinterest.com/shari3139/.  

Thought I'd show you my 4th burner pot I first saw on "Food In Jars" -- linked on the left side of my blog.  The pot comes with a handy wire basket -- great for steaming veggies or boiling eggs.  I also intend to use this pot to process small batches of canned jam this year.

Anyway,I got some unusually results with the dyes.  I think I may have had some uniques chemical reactions because of the method I used to hard boil the eggs.  The recipe I used for the perfect boiled egg called for salt and vinegar in the boiling water.  I got a bit of a salty coating on my eggs and had to scrub it off (which also took off some of the brown tint too.  So odd!).  I think if I had boiled the eggs in just water, my results may have been different.  

I made dye baths with red onion peel, grape juice, red cabbage, beets and paprika.  I found it funny that they are all kind of the same color at the beginning, but create such different colored eggs.
The instructions are different for each color, but none of them were hard to make or took any exotic ingredients -- just boiling water, white vinegar, and the item that contains the color.

I found the red cabbage to have the most interesting result.  I got dark teal and pale teal all in the same batch.  The beets gave a nice mottled pink color.  The red onion was supposed to create jade green, but mine look more like a burgundy with a green patina instead.  The paprika made a nice pale orange and the grape juice made a dark lavender color.

I think they turned out quite lovely.  This is what I have left over after giving my friend, Cristin, some of them.  She contributed some of the red onion skins and she assisted me with making the dyes.  She made a fun creative project even more fun -- and the good music and a great bottle of Concord Wine helped too.  Good times!

More tea towels from Heidi

I got such a great response from my post about my tea towels that I thought you might be interested is seeing some more.  My good friend, Heidi, shared a photo of hers on her blog.
Heidi is one of my friends from way-back.  My mom says that we were on the same diaper changing table in the church nursery.  I only saw her every four years while her family was on furlough from their missionary work in West Africa.  We grew closer in our junior year of high school, which is when we started talking about the possibility of me going to Mali to visit her.  One thing lead to another, and that possibility turned into reality after our senior year.

My 7 months in Mali were life changing.  Heidi and I got involved with a literacy program through Gospel Missionary Union - along with another gal from Nebraska and another missionary "kid" that lived in the same area Heidi's family was in.  The four of us spent 2 months learning Bambara -- at least we learned enough to get by.  Then we moved into a more remote area and taught people to read (in Bambara) for the last 5 months.  It is hard to describe how much an experience like that can impact a person.  Mali is one of the poorest countries on the planet - but the people are so generous.  And they are so happy too!  They really taught me more than I would ever hope to teach them.

Anyway, Heidi is now a wife and momma, and they have all moved back to Mali to be full time missionaries.  She absolutely amazes me!  Although we don't get to see each other very frequently - we share a definite bond.  Heidi, I know you read my blog frequently -- I hope you don't mind that I shared a bit about you.  Oh, and I am still working on that package for your family as well.  Gonna have fun shopping for a few things later today.  :)

Happy Halloween!

I've been very busy with work lately -- working lots of overtime.  The paychecks are good, but I haven't really gotten out much.  Subsequently, my blog has been kind of neglected.  Anyway, I'd like to kind of catch up on a few things.
The same day I shot the portrait of Sassafras, I got some photos of the stray cat and her baby.  The baby kitty was finally getting friendlier (it was very wild compared to mama cat -- who rubs against my shins to get food).  Sadly, I found the baby kitty had been hit by a car just a couple of days after taking the photos.  I know that stray kitties don't have a long life span, but this was particularly tragic -- she was just a baby.  :(

(The black one is the baby, and the grey one is the mama)

Sassy doesn't mind that the baby is gone though.  She doesn't like sharing her backyard with the other cats.  Sassy doesn't go outside a lot, and she has always been a scardicat.  She goes outside when I am out there but when the stray cats come around, she goes on the defense.  The day we shot the photos, the kitten was trying to play with Sassy - unaware that Sassy wasn't really amused.  I snapped a photo at the very instant Sassy decided to take a swat at her.  I guess she just got a little to close to my big old cat.

I've been feeding the birds and enjoying their presence right outside our front bay-style window.  I've had finches at my thistle feeder, a couple varieties of woodpeckers on the suet, bluejays going after corn, and chickadees, nuthatches, cardinals, and juncos enjoying the sunflower seeds.  Oh, and a tufted titmouse just flew up to remind me that they like the feeder too.

A pretty chickadee -- when our trees still had leaves left on them.  

All the leaves came down last week with that huge windstorm that rolled through the midwest.  I work in customer service at one of the large electric providers in Michigan -- needless to say, we were busy this week.
Last night I met up with three of my friends from work as they were getting ready to go to the bar.  I had fun taking photos of their transformations.

Getting ready

Elizabeth as a sadistic June Cleaver, Cristin as Marilyn Monroe, and Nikki as a sexy skunk.  We also hung out with Liza (Elizabeth and Nikki's good friend) and some of their guy friends...

Liza as a peacock 

"Where the Wild Things Are", "The Hangover", and a couple of beat up zombies.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween!

Plan B

This past weekend I made it to Grand Rapids to check out Art Prize.  Art Prize made it's debut last year and was a hugh hit.  What a genius idea!  Gather artists and their work from around the world and set up different venues around the city to draw in masses of people.  Businesses benefit, the artists show their work, and thousands upon thousands of people experience a free art exhibit as big as a city.  The people vote on their favorites and the winning artist gets a fat check.

I've placed my vote for "Plan B"-- a collaborative project that several of my best friends have been involved with.  It is in Ah-Nab-Awen park near the Gerald R. Ford museum (seen on the left side of the photo below).

So what is it?  We are currently living in Plan A -- a world driven by oil and coal -- non-renewable resources.  Plan B explores the "post peak oil world where electricity is only intermittent and almost everything used to keep daily life humming along has been made out of preexisting products and materials. A combination of very old technologies with what can be patched together out of the rubble of what has been made before, fallen apart and left behind".

They have a functional kitchen, tents made of recycled billboards, a stage that runs by bicycle power, water filtration (also pumped by a bike), chickens, rabbits, a garden, and the Wonder Wagon.

People are living in Plan B Town for the entirety of the Art Prize exhibit.  My good friends have been spending most of their free time down there.

Here is a photo of my best guy friend (besides my husband of course) starting a fire to make tea.  

I wanted to stay longer, but had to make it home the same day.  Anyway, if you are anywhere near Grand Rapids right now -- you gotta check it out! 

What's new?

I am feeling the need to leave a blog post just because I haven't done one for a while.  It's not that I don't have anything to blog about, I just don't feel like I have much time.  We have a bunch of projects going on that are half completed that I wanted to blog about when they are done.
Spring is progressing nicely here although the weather has been a little peculiar this year.  The weather has been all wrong for morel mushrooms.  Apparently it has been right for tent caterpillars though.  We have a multitude of them and they are driving me over the edge.  I am plotting ways to kill them (usually I leave other creatures alone).  I wish I just had a bunch of free ranging chickens or even a pair of guinea fowl to munch on them.
Charlie and I are working on building some raised bed gardens this year.  We have the lumber and have it cut -- we just have to get it all assembled.  We also are making a "salad garden" for the back patio that is also in the works.  We bought a Cub Cadet tractor last weekend and finally mowed the lawn (looking for a small mower or a weed whacker to take care of the small areas the riding mower can't reach).
I saw a new bird at our feeder this morning.  It is a Rose-breasted Grosbeak.  Recently we have also been getting Blue Jays, Nuthatches, and Gold Finches.
This weekend my good friends, Rich and Jen came over from Grand Rapids.  We went out to eat at the Frankenmuth Brewery and went to a few stores as well.  Mostly, we have just been sitting around enjoying each other's company.
Once I get a project complete, I will blog more.  Until then, I hope you are enjoying your Spring.

Weekend update

I had a very nice time this past weekend -- but the whole thing flew by so quickly!  I had to work on Saturday, but after work I drove to Grand Rapids to visit my family and friends.  After visiting with my parents and brother a bit in the evening,  I went to see my good friends Rich, Jen, and Amy.  It was so refreshing to be able to just sit around and talk with some like-minded individuals.  We must do it more often.

Sunday morning we (Mom, Dad, and my brother - Rob) went to a Bagel shop and had a bagel and coffee together.  Then we hung out back at their house a while until Grandma came over.  We had lunch together and sat around the table a long time talking.  Charlie was sad he missed it.  He was stuck working all weekend.

In the afternoon I hung out with my friend Dawn (and her pal Steven).  We had a good time and laughed a lot.  She made a housewarming gift for Charlie and me -- some hand towels and dish cloths.  I love homemade stuff!

I know it has taken me a while to post this - seeing it is Wednesday already.  Work has been taking a lot of my time and energy lately.  Today and tomorrow I only have to work 8 hours.  We were given the option to take a couple hours off, so I took it.  I've just been feeling run down lately and right now I'm fighting a sore throat and the starts of a cold.  Hopefully it doesn't progress into anything bad.

P.S. Dad was the one who said I should take the photo of the orchid shown above with the blue glass as a background.  I think it turned out pretty cool.

A Holiday Party

Last night a good friend from work had a Christmas tree decorating party.  There was plenty of good food, warm beverages, and great conversation.  I got to meet a few of her friends from outside of work -- which was nice because I don't get a chance to meet new people very often.

Oh, the beverages were amazing!

This is a photo of her mulled wine (shot outdoors to show off the steam).  It is from a German recipe and was quite delightful.  After I sampled the wine, I also tried the buttered rum.  I had never had buttered rum before, but I'm pretty sure she nailed that recipe.  I have found a new favorite holiday drink.  It was like Christmas in a glass.

With 7 of us there, it didn't take long to decorate her tree.  She had already done the hard part by getting the tree up and lit (she shared the saga all week at work -- it gave her a fairly hard time).  After all the glass ornaments were on, my friend did the honors of putting the star on top.  I think her tree turned out lovely.

Dad is getting better and should be going home tomorrow from what Mom tells me.  I'm still coughing and dealing with chest congestion, so I didn't go to visit today like I had originally planned.

I must get going on some Christmas shopping.  I haven't done anything at all yet.  Usually I am almost done with buying or making gifts by now.  I am finally feeling the festive spirit so I'll have to kick it into high gear to get everything done in time.

Down on the Farm

This week I had a vacation from work.  It was a nice break but it flew by quickly!  On Tuesday I headed over to Grand Rapids to visit my family and friends.  I was able to spend time with my friend D. talking and watching a movie.  It was very good to see my family -- as always.  And I also spent some time at the Quiggle Farm.  It is a farm that my good friends are living on this summer.  It is an interesting place with two families (6 kids) and many visitors (some with even more kids).  Let me introduce you:

This is Rich...

and Jen...
Lily...

Rosie...and Daisy (in this photo she had been playing in a tub of water - helping to wash the dishes, but decided to wash herself also).

Here are Foxy and Sunday, the newest additions to the farm.

Here is Brian and Jenna's newest addition to their family.  Isn't she just the sweetest?

Also residing on the farm are chickens and turkeys...

And sheep.

Things can get a little crazy on the farm with some many people and critters (and mosquitos) around, but they are doing amazing things on the farm.  They are working on self sufficiency and living simply.  They are a community of like-minded people -- and I happen to share their beliefs as well.  I guess that kinda makes me a part of their community -- and that is a good feeling.  Thanks guys, I had fun!  I can't wait to come back and visit again!

Catching up

I have several different things to write about today so I think I will do a couple of new posts.  I'm trying to catch up a bit.

Shortly after posting my last blog with the dahlia photo I was contacted by a friend from highschool -- Melissa.  She gave me the tragic news that our mutual friend Michelle had passed away the day before and that it was suicide.  I was absolutely shocked that Michelle was gone, but not as shocked about how she left us.  Michelle had always struggled with thoughts of suicide, for as long as I've know her.  I spent many afternoons after school on the phone with her trying to tell her the reasons to keep living.  We had lots of joyful times too though.  Melissa told me Michelle was bi-polar.  I had lost track of Michelle a few years ago and only recently had found her on facebook.  We were catching up with each other and even planning on getting together in November (Michelle, Melissa, Heidi and me - just like old times).  Now she is gone and we won't get that chance. 

 I was quite upset about it at first but it is starting to feel less painful now.  I am trying to focus on the good times we had together and not on the times we could have had in the future.  I'm trying not to beat myself up for the should haves and could haves (should have called her more, could have made more time for her, etc).  If Michelle only knew how much everybody loved her...

Refreshing weekend

After work on Saturday I headed to Grand Rapids.  I had to go.  I couldn't stay away any longer.  I've been missing my friends and family severely.  Unfortunately Charlie was working and couldn't come with me this time.

It was dark by the time I got to town, but I went over to the farm.  My friends Rich and Jen and Amy are helping fix the place up and get it running.  Jenna and Brian will be farming it.  Actually, it has become quite a community project so far and I foresee great things for the farm.  There are better photos and news about the farm here and here.

This is a photo of Jen and her youngest child, Daisy.  Rich and Jen just got this camper.  It is really quite nice for being somewhat vintage (1976 -- made the same year I was).  My favorite thing about this photo are the two dreadlocks sticking out like Pippy Longstockings).

We hung out in the camper a while then headed out to the fire.  This photo is of Jenna and Brian after a long day of work.  They have their jobs cut out for them with the farm!  

It was a nice evening outside and we had good conversation.  I wish I had more time to spend over there to help out.  

On Sunday I spent the morning with my Mom.  We took a quick ride in her convertible - our favorite past time.  I had a nice dinner with my family - corn on the cob, summer squash casserole, and zucchini bread.  

Then I went out for a cup of coffee with my friend Dawn.  We mostly talked about her trip to Mansfield, OH to the prison there with their group - Mystic19.  They were there looking for paranormal activity.  This is the group's website.  Interesting stuff.

I feel so much better since my visit.  I feel mentally and emotionally refreshed.  I feel like I can face my week and maybe not take my frustration from work out on my husband.  Ahhhhh.... it is refreshing.

Tie Dye Weekend

This past weekend I went to Grand Rapids to do a batch of tie-dye with Jen and Rich.  I wasn't real thrilled with how the stuff I dyed turned out, but it was a really fun time.  I was experimenting with stitching the design into the fabric rather than folding the fabric and that didn't really work for me.  

Anyway, I got to spend lots of time with Rich and Jen and the girls and I got to see Jenna and her family.  I also made two new friends -- Rachel and Jane.  Making new friends is something that doesn't happen for me very often, so it was cool.  Rachel is staying with Rich and Jen for a while (originally from Portland, OR) and is interested in intentional community too.  Oh, and she can bake a mean gluten-free brownie!  Jane is the hippie-est chick I have met since I traveled around with the Rainbow Family.  It turns out that we went to the same Church growing up and I even went to Brazil with her brother and to Spain with her sister.  It is a small world.  

We did a bunch of tie dye on Saturday - until evening.  Rich made an awesome vegetable curry for dinner!  Then we hung on the porch until it got too cold and we went inside.  I got back to my folks house pretty late, but I still got up in the morning to go to breakfast with my Mom and Dad.  It is becoming a tradition for us to go out on Saturday or Sunday morning on the weekends I visit.  Then I packed up and headed back to the Holshoe house to rinse out the tie-dye.  The weekend flew by and I didn't get to see Amy or Dawn like I had wanted.  :(

Jen is going to try to sell some of our stuff at the Farmer's Market in Grand Rapids.  What doesn't sell there will probably go up on Etsy.com so be looking for future posts about how to find our "store".  What?  You've never been to Etsy.com?!?  Well, you should check it out!  It is only the coolest place on the internet for a crafter who wants to quit their day-job and just create full-time.  -sigh-