Seedy Art

I got this idea from my friend Kasia's blog, which has a lot of fun projects. It was really easy and <$1 for all three. I already had some frames that I painted (although if you're looking for your own frames DI usually has tons for $0.50-1.00) and burlap. The seeds were from Wal Mart but their selection wasn't very good. I later found more at Honks and they were 6 for a $1.

Jewelry Tree

I wanted to win a Silhouette cutter awhile back. There was a local tv contest for crafts under $5. I had been wanting to make a jewelry tree for a little while and decided this would be a good opportunity. I was inspired by a few that I found online. They were around $50 each. Mine was $1. I used a branch that had been pruned from our apple tree (free), a piece of wood that was in our shed (free, many places like Home Depot that cut lumber will give you the scraps since they just throw them away), a mirror ($1), paint, and glue (E6000 works well).

(Sorry for the slightly fuzzy picture. I'm too lazy to go get another one from the computer downstairs)

I think it turned out pretty cute. Worth my dollar. In case you were wondering, I didn't win the Silhouette. There's some lingering bitterness at the contest. I'm not too surprised I didn't win. I was a little disappointed at the craft that did win. I didn't think that it was even close to the most original or best craft submitted.

Love

I love Legos. I think they are a great toy that appeal to a wide variety of ages and promote creative play. I think the new line of Toy Story Legos is awesome. I may have to splurge.

Yardwork

I find yardwork incredibly satisfying. Yesterday R and I spent a good part of the day working outside. We mowed the lawn, borrowed a weed whacker and used it, weeded a little, and finished removing a thicket of a hedge. I don't have any before pictures but this is the after picture:



The main trunk was about 11 inches in diameter. There was so many branches around the main trunk. It was crazy. Before the removal, the hedgy bush was about 10ish feet high and about 7 feet wide. It was removed because that's where I'm going to plant my raspberry patch.

As a garden update, things seem to be growing fairly well. In addition to the chard, peas, leeks, radishes, lettuce, and green onions, I've planted a variety of peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, onions, cilantro, tarragon, and chives. Tomorrow I'll add rhubarb, shallots, squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, and gourds.


In the upper right hand corner you can see the digging of my nemesis, the gopher, not even 2 feet away from a supposed gopher repelling unit. One day, the gopher will be gone.

This is the view of the smaller, shadier part of my garden where I have some peas and the herbs.

Flourless Chocolate Cake

I made this cake awhile back. It was delicious. It's also a great option for people that can't/shouldn't have gluten like me.

I also like that it is really easy to make but looks extravagant.

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup water
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 3/4 cup white sugar
* 18 (1 ounce) squares bittersweet chocolate
* 1 cup unsalted butter
* 6 eggs


Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease one 10 inch round cake pan and set aside.

2. In a small saucepan over medium heat combine the water, salt and sugar. Stir until completely dissolved and set aside.

3. Either in the top half of a double boiler or in a microwave oven melt the bittersweet chocolate. Pour the chocolate into the bowl of an electric mixer.

4. Cut the butter into pieces and beat the butter into the chocolate, 1 piece at a time. Beat in the hot sugar-water. Slowly beat in the eggs, one at a time.

5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Have a pan larger than the cake pan ready, put the cake pan in the larger pan and fill the pan with boiling water halfway up the sides of the cake pan.

6. Bake cake in the water bath at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 45 minutes. The center will still look wet. Chill cake overnight in the pan. To unmold, dip the bottom of the cake pan in hot water for 10 seconds and invert onto a serving plate.

Purse

One of my great friends had a birthday a couple of weeks ago. I was trying to think of something inexpensive and cute to give to her. I decided I would make a little purse. This is the pattern that I used. I made a few modifications to it but for a first attempt I thought it turned out pretty cute.



It took <2 hours start to finish (which is a great project time because I can usually get it done or close to it during naptime). It also only ended up costing ~$3.50.

I think that I may modify the pattern more and make a larger version of it. I think that it would make a cute diaper bag.