i dream in trees

WOnderlanD

Well, My kombucha turned out great! I made it cherry orange ginger flavored and bottled it up in these cute little bottles. I LOVE these, just want to start putting everything in these, but they are quite expensive.____________________________________________________________________

Dear Santa,

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you Thanks for all the snow here in Durango! Thank you thank you thank you. DOn't worry about bringing me anything else, you have already outdone yourself.

Sincerely.

_____________________________________________________________________

Made the MOST amazing vegan & gluten free chocolate chip cookies! Here is the recipe:

1/3 cup Vegetable oil

1/4 cup Rasin or Date Puree (make your own by simmering the raisins in water until soft, strain, then puree)

1/2 cup maple syrup, honey or agave

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tbs. vanilla

1 1/2 cups mixture of bulgar, oat and rice flour

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1 cup dark chocolate chips (could also use carob chips)

1/2 cup almond milk, coconut milk or soy milk

* heath bar pieces

*1/2 cup sliced almonds, walnuts, or toasted pecans

* 1/4 cup of whole oats

* 1/4 cup shredded coconut

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Mix together all dry ingredients

3. Whisk in oil, syrups, puree, and vanilla

4. Add/ Stir in chocolate chips and nuts

5. Spoon onto greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart

6. Bake until golden brown, usually 8-10 min.

7. Let sit for 2 min.

THings I Like:

movement

Yes, I know it has been a while since i posted, but hey.... I get bored easily by things and i guess this was one of those things. :) Too much has happened to do a recap of my life since i last wrote so i will just start at NOW.

My Early winter has consisted of the aroma of soup on my miniature stove, the dim light of two new lamps ( $2 each at the Fuita, CO Goodwill-- Very proud buyer), the sweet leathery smell of my elegant "MALIN+GOTEZ" candle- which is actually getting quite low... hint hint for anyone in the Christmas spirit-, and the sight of my 3 pairs of wool lined shoes resting by the door and waiting for the snow.

Things i have recently learned:

Gardening in a Greenhouse

Making Kombucha Tea

Making a Wreath (no $$ needed)

The best care for a Jade Plant

GREENHOUSE GARDENING

I was a little hesitant in planing right now because i had heard it might be too late in the season, but i guess i will find out in a couple of months. The Greenhouse was loaded with weeds, straw, and dead plants. First Step: Clean. This is the easiest part for me because i actually know what i am doing. Simple, right? Just rip up all the old dead plant and the growing weeds and vines( i left the edible ones like mallow) and prepare the soil. I took some compost from our yard and with my hands mixed it into the already existent greenhouse earth. I don't know if I learned this somewhere or just developed it on my own, but i firmly believe in using my hand to touch the soil as much as possible, i rarely use tools. While doing this i image the life in me touching the life in the earth and helping it grow.

Second Step: Plant seeds. I did some asking around and research to compile a list of things that enjoy winter greenhouse growing. This is what I came up with:

Cool Greenhouse Plants

Beets

Broccoli

Brussel Sprouts

Cabbage

Carrots

Cauliflower

Celery

Cilantro

Garlic

Kale

Lettuce

Parsley

Raddish

Spinach

Swiss chard

Turnips

Peppers- start late Feb. facing South

Tomatoes- start early Jan. in pot facing South

Eggplant- start mid Jan.

Squash

Cucumbers- start late Feb. facing South

Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

And Lastly I planted them as directed on the package and have been watering almost every morning, as if I were planing outside in the spring. I hope this works, been using visualizing techniques to help them grow as well. I planted last Saturday 11/7/09.

KOMBUCHA TEA

* This recipe was given to be by one of the best raw cooks I know, Amber! She is awesome.

Ingredients:

3-4 L. Filtered Water

1 T. Organic Black Tea

1 Cup Organic Sugar

1 Large or 2 Medium Clean/Sterilized Bowls

2-4 oz. Kombucha or vinegar

Sterilized (Soaked in Bleach Water) Cheesecloth or Bandana

1/2 Mushroom 'Mother'

BOil water and steep tea for 15 min. Remove tea and stir in sugar. Cool to room temperature, then pour into a glass or stainless steel clean bowl (or 2). Add Kombucha and 1/2 of a 'Mother'. Cover with sterilized cheesecloth or bandana and place in a warm (70-80 degree ) dark place. Depending on the temperature, it will take about 1-3 weeks. Will taste bubbly, vinegary, with a little sweetness. * Disturb the mother as little as possible while Kombucha is fermenting.

WREATH MAKING

SO MUCH FUN!!! So, basically all you need is:

wire hanger

pieces plants you want to use

pine

rosemary

sage

lavender

aspen branches

pine cones

......

green florist wire

Bend wire hanger into a circle and connect the ends, this is the base for your wreath. Make a bundle of your plants and tie them to the wreath base. Continue to do this, keeping the branches going the same direction. I found that it works best putting on LOTS of leaves and tying them close together.

This sight might be more informative:

http://www.save-on-crafts.com/wreatmakandd.html

JADE PLANT

I helped this lady move into the house next door, when I first moved here and was living in Turtle Lake. As we hauled her things inside i could help but notice her AMAZING, huge jade tree. We chatted about it and she gave me a planted cutting from that tree! My plant hadn't grown much since then and that was almost 6 months ago. I never really knew how to best take care of it until I want over to a friends house for Monday night Potluck and he had at least 15 Jade plants. He told me this-

Jades like:

LOTS of Sun, preferably a South facing window

and to be completely dried out between waterings

Just in the past two weeks mine has sprouted 3 new little jade's in the pot!! YAY.

Okay... so i gave up on the hand washing.

My whole plan coming out here was to live downtown after these two months in Turtle Lake. I had an appointment to look at a cute little house downtown yes terday. I went. I liked it just fine. I am afraid i have gotten to love this area and its rural atmosphere a little too much though.  I have no washer or dryer, no dishwasher, no garbage disposal, no bath tub, and no heat. All these things the downtown place acquires, although something was missing... the Mountians in my backyard?  THE GARDEN? The clothes line? The huge windows and the view?> Well, I cant stay here, so i'm felling quite torn. 

Another problem that has 

risen: I need hiking shoes!!! Okay. easy, right?.. there are outdoor stores an every block basically. I go in, sit myself 

down and begin my inquiry to the sales associate. SHe asks-

waterproof or breathable?

low top or high top?

trail running?

light hiking?

backpacking?

climbing?

ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The worst part is that i cant bring myself to spent $100 on the UNGLIEST PAIR OF SHOES I HAVE EVER SEEN!

I sat in each store with a diffrent pair of shoes on my feet.  staring at them,  and waiting until they magically looked cool on my feet. I left without any shoes.

THIS IS THE STRAWBERRY RHUBARB PIE I MADE!!!

As we pulled into the famous COLORADO, I decided it was time... to take off my COLORADo Bound sticker i so strategically placed on the front of my car about a year ago. I am Here. 

so... im here!

Well, I guess i should start off with The beginning of our trip. Both Mine and CAra's Car was PACKED FULL. Edge had a cozy little spot on top of everything, and enjoyed it quite a bit:) 

We drove through oklahoma, and stopped in the cutest art district. THis is a pretty cool town surprisingly. But we ate at a Bar and Grill which, goodness... could not have had worse food. This was just the beginning of the bad food finder along our way. Reguardless, we enjoyed our time there and continued on through to Arkansas which was just plain farm land with tons of windmills and BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS! here's, oNe:

it was so pretty. the simplicity of the just the sky and the land meeting each other here. We wanted to keep driving until Texas to sleep but my eyes got tired. We stopped in ??? and stayed at a Motel 6 where Elizabeth (my trusty travel partner) got a tick in the bed!!! From here Cara and Allison went on through New Mexico and continued to Durango while Elizabeth and I decided to take our time and make a detour to Santa Fe. Aunt Carol knew the owners of a little B&B right down town and we got an amazing free room! THe quaint little adobe place was covered in beautiful red roses and we felt like queens, especially after Motel 6. 

We walked around down through Old Town and enjoyed the western/mexican environment. We woke up the next morning, has a luxurious breakfast at the hotel and continued our journey to Durango. I think it took us about 4 hours before we say the Welcome to COLORFUL COLORADO sign..... 

OH, I LEFT OUT ONE FUNNY PART.... 

On the way to santa fe  we started driving down a VERY desolate road. 

ABout 15 miles in, Elizabeth asks, "Hey, Do we need gas?" 

The gas gauge was right above the red section. AH!! 

I looked at her and she looked and me and we both said, 

" I dont know what to do. " 

We stopped on the side of the road because we knew if we went further there may not be a gas station for 50 miles, but we didnt remember if there was one behind us either. We couldn't take the chance either way. 

Both Our Phones were out of service

I said, " I'll just ask somebody."

I jumped out of the Car and started waving down every car that passed.  

Elizabeth took Pictures.

Thankfully after the second car, one full of 6 grannies pulled over. 

They told me that the closest gas station was 17 miles behind me. 

THank you! PERFECT. We made it there smoothly after that. :)

so... im here!