What a frantic fantastic day!

I never got near the kitchen last night but I did manage to make it to the store. Here's an exclusive Billy Stewart tip; there is no good produce left out at 11:20PM. I don't know what I was thinking and Jewel sells one single vanilla bean for $14.00, CRAZY! I probably could have gotten something done last night but really couldn't make myself and why worry with the whole day to bake and frost and decorate? I should have set an alarm because I woke up at 12:07 this afternoon. After running from store to store to get the rest of my needed ingredients, I started making lemon curd at 3PM. In the future I will have to manage my time better! I ended up getting everything made and assembling them at my parent's house while listening in on everyone's conversations. My piping was sloppy, I didn't grab the right size tips and the butter cream was just a little too stiff and I had no patience. Not the end of the world (they still tasted great) it just wasn't up to my standards. Oh well, I have another dozen naked cupcakes and a second bag of butter cream, without the time crunch and anxiety of performing in front of a crowd, I will pipe a few perfect cupcakes for a photo shoot and get a picture up tomorrow so you can see what these Meyer Lemon Raspberry Cupcakes should look like. The recipe came from Vanilla Bake Shop of Santa Monica, CA c/o The Martha Stewart Show. This is my go to recipe for cupcakes because they are so moist and tender. This was my first time using their lemon curd recipe. It was a much milder flavor than mine which is more tart but still really nice. Anyhow, I had a wonderful night my parents and the Webers. We had a huge dinner (I still can barely move) and boisterous conversations. Anytime with the Webers is always a lot of fun. Now I have to go tackle those dishes... or maybe that's a job better left for the morning.

Pickles, Pickles, Pickles (can't think of anything more creative.)

With a light breeze running through the house and the plants soaking up the sun I knew it was the perfect day to start preparing summer pickles. I have had the urge all week but felt that standing over a hot stove, boiling vinegar wasn't going to be fun in 90 degree weather. So I dragged Chris to the grocery store this morning to pick up some new pickling salt and spice and cucumbers and carrots. Once I got home and pulled out my recipes, I realized I had forgotten mustard seeds but decided to just fiddle around with ingredients and pray for the best (I'm not even a big fan of mustard so this could all be for the best and I know the pickles will be great no matter what.) Starting with the carrots, I peeled and sliced them on a bias making 1/4" chips, chopping about 6 cups total. With the carrots cut and placed in a large jar I crushed 5 cloves of garlic and dropped them on top. Then I boiled for 4 minutes a combination of 1 1/2 cups water and 1 1/2 cups white vinegar with 1 cup sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoon pickling salt, 1 tablespoon pickling spice, 1 1/2 tablespoon crushed red pepper and 1 tablespoon dehydrated onion. After carefully pouring the hot brine over the carrots I left them open and on the counter to rest until reaching room temperature. Then I capped the jar and put them in the fridge. Next I moved onto the cucumbers, slicing two large ones into 1/4" chips. The process was basically the same and the brine was 1 1/2 cups water + 1 1/2 cups white vinegar +1 1/2 tablespoons pickling spice + 3/4 cup sugar + 2 teaspoons oregano + 1 tablespoon dehydrated onion + 6 cloves of garlic, crushed. Boil for 4 minutes but instead of pouring over the cucumbers let this rest until it comes to room temperature. I hate nothing more than soggy/soft pickles, I like a crunch and cooling the brine first will keep the crisp in the cucumber. Of course you will have to wait a few days before eating these but to me the wait is worth it. I'm anxious to pop the tops and snack on some fiery carrot chips and some cool, fresh pickle slices but until then I will just have to find a new project.

How-To: Building a Woodland Terrarium

Building your own terrarium from moss and plants you have harvested yourself can not only be lot's of fun but also very rewarding. It will keep you looking for different varieties and will get you to see things you may not have noticed on an afternoon hike. I have found interesting bugs, eggs, mushrooms and animals, just to name a few. The terrariums I made yesterday were entirely constructed from wild moss I picked up that morning. With the wet conditions, the moss had flourished and was easy to harvest. Whenever you pick anything for transplant it is better to do so when well watered. If the roots are dry they may not take to the new potting medium. Moss is quite possibly one of the easiest to gather, gently work your finger tips between the moss and the object it is growing on (stone, tree, earth, etc...) and pull it up in a sheet or clump. Place the moss in a Ziploc bag (fold root side in if needed) and seal. Toss in your bag and keep looking for other items you might like (small stones, pieces of driftwood, bones, etc...) After you have found what you like and will need, head home to start on the terrarium. To prepare the moss you will want shake the sheet out into a garbage bag or bin or bathtub. Leaves, bugs and other debris should fall out. Don't worry about getting all of it out, you can get it at the end.

You'll need a clean, large glass container with a loose fitting lid. Cookie and apothecary jars work and look best. Look at rummage sales, thrift stores and if all else fails Wal-Mart carries pretty inexpensive jars like the ones shown in this How-To. I bought these years ago and believe they were about $12 or so. Really not a bad deal. You might want to have a few handy because once you get going it's hard to stop yourself. Chris is worried and he should be! I have completely mentally redecorated the apartment to incorporate as many terrariums and plant life that I can but that's for another time. SO with your jar spotless and rinsed thoroughly place about an inch of cleaned gravel in the bottom. I buy the $2 bags of river pea gravel from Home Depot and that looks just fine for me. If you want color you can use aquarium gravels, glass blobs or rubies and sapphires if that's what you want, you just need a 1" layer of pebble-ish stuff at the bottom for drainage.

Next we need earth! I use a regular high quality potting soil but you can also use specialty mixes like those for African Violets or Orchids. In a large bowl place the estimated amount of soil needed (there should be at least 1 1/2"-2 1/2" of soil and you will need more if you plan on making hills.) Next add in aquarium or gardening charcoal, about a 1:5 charcoal to soil mix is sufficient. The charcoal will purify the terrarium over time, keeping it fresh and healthy. Add in enough water to completely wet the soil. You don't want mud! Just enough where you can make a mud ball and it doesn't fall apart. Place into the container on top of the gravel (don't mix the two.) Be as neat as possible trying to mind the walls of the container. I like to make mounds of dirt to create hills and valleys to add visual appeal. After you have the base to your liking, take a fork and rough up the surface so the roots will take. Using a spray bottle filled with water and set on "Stream" spray down the sides of the container making sure to get all the dirt down to the bottom.

Now the fun starts. I pull several different varieties of moss that I collected trying to change up the color, texture and size. I love how fern moss looks like a forest from far away and clump moss takes on the appearance of a meadow. You can gently ease pieces off your main sheet of moss or puzzle together small sections you have. Press the moss firmly into the prepared soil. If you are using a longer moss like fern moss, lay it on last so the bottom leaves can hang over and not become smothered by other mosses. If you are planting ferns or other plants, make sure to dig a little hole for them first. It is better to put the plants in first and lay the moss around them. After all the living objects are in place you can add anything decorative you found or like (skulls, driftwood, jade statues, rocks, etc...) To finish up mist down entirely, spraying off any debris on the walls of the container. Don't go overboard with the water, if you see it pooling in the gravel stop. You don't want it to be too wet. Look through and pick out any debris or bugs hiding in the plants. Now place the top on and set in a low light area of your house to enjoy.

For the next week or so after you'll need to monitor the moisture levels. If there was originally water pooling in the gravel, leave the top off overnight. Then put it back on the next morning. If condensation starts to appear on the walls, take the top off again. If the soil looks dry, lightly mist down the plants. It will take some time but once the humidity is up without the glass fogging up, you can leave the top on and pretty much forget about it. Occasionally you will need to mist and prune but that is almost bi-annual. Really easy right? Make several, start big, it's just easier.

Terrariums are the coolest!

I know I have disappeared yet again but I promise I didn't forget about y'all. A lot has been going on this past week and I haven't been in a very productive mood. Of course the rain didn't help either. I was happy to see it though, I love thunderstorms and rain means growth and rejuvenation. So I am getting very excited about upcoming hikes and forays. I was supposed to take a friend out today to collect moss and small plants that we would then use to assemble terrariums. We decided to postpone due to the abundance of rain. It's a good thing we did because everything is flooded. I went out for a quick trip through one of my favorite forests this morning. Salt Creek has spilled over into the forest and it's all mud out there. I did happen to collect some moss and assembled two terrariums this afternoon. I needed something to take my mind off of life and it did the trick. Tomorrow I will post a how-to on building a terrarium. Today though mucky, excited me for next weeks adventures with Cece. We have been looking forward to an outing together and this should just be wonderful. I'm already thinking of what to collect and planning many different terrariums in my head. Can't wait!

OH YEAH! The pictures I've taken don't do them justice! I am working on editing or using a different filter or something to show the variation in the mosses' color and texture. They look like small forests. I think I should head to Chinatown and pick up some jade Buddhas for them. I need more of the "middle path" in my life.

Rising with the Sun

Determined to get in a good hunt and hike before Martha at 11am, I woke up at 4:45 and was deep in the woods by 5:20. It was a great day, found some Morels and snapped some great pictures. I discovered new trails, several rivers and ponds and got lost... a lot. It's just too easy but I really do need to get a a compass or at least pay attention to where I'm going. It has been really nice this year because every time I head out for a hike, I am for the most part prepared. My pack includes a journal and pen for notes, several Zip-Lock bags for... well anything I might want to bring back, a pair of heavy duty shears and a knife. I also bring with a basket for collecting Spring onions and edible mushrooms, an old book and strap for pressing flowers and my field guides for identifying unfamiliar mushrooms. A camera is a must and I keep mine on hand in my breast pocket or basket. There have been too many times in previous years where I have found myself without it so I'm making sure to stay on top of having it with me, charged and ready. While I still need to add to my field supplies (a pocket saw, better knife, magnifying glass and I'm always looking for better field guides) I am really proud that I've been so diligent about being prepared for one of my favorite activities and I can make the most out of my time in the forest. Ok, I know I have been obsessed with Morels and the woods and whatnot but it is the season. I promise in the next few days to bake a cake or something, I will be starting a huge clean and reorganization of our apartment and I will document it all. I am going to be switching the bedroom with the craft room (we need more space for my projects and the bedroom is larger! Will Chris kill me? I swear he'll love it once he sees it. I'm off to spend some time with Chris and the kids. Can't wait for this thunderstorm to really get going.

FINALLY!

You will be glad to hear that I finally found Morels! It took forever but my patience (hahaha) was well worth the wait. Over the entire weekend I probably picked about 20 which is not bad for the first good hit of Spring. Saturday I woke up super early and was in the forests by 6am. It took me 8 hours before finding a really great spot, my new honey spot. I headed back there late this morning to see what had popped up overnight. After a few minutes of brushing the forest floor and seeing amazing polypori, a car pulled up. I was a little nervous about who would be intruding on "MY" forest. A father and son team headed into the woods on the other side of the road and later asked how my hunt was going. Luckily I had nothing exciting to report. If you don't know, "honey spots" are closely guarded secrets and most mushroom hunters won't give too much information away. The dad told me they had 14 from their previous areas and that they had seen people picking over the area we were in. More people know about this spot? AHH! Next week I will have to get there at 5AM! I spent about 45 minutes (maybe more... probably more) without anything. I pressed on despite the rain and even after the competing pair left. Finally I spotted the perfect tree from across the way and just knew I would be lucky. There were 8 spread out around the base of the dead Maple. I shrieked in excitement. I kept going but decided I had enough for dinner and a few extras for a friend. Next week should be fantastic, a little more rain and a lot more sun will do the trick. I want to organize a hunt with some friends but first need to secure some more spots. It would be heartbreaking and embarrassing to take others out with me and not find anything. Tonight, I will be sauteing the Morels in butter with a little salt and pepper. Yum!

BLAH

I really have absolutely nothing to report. Chris made dinner, I haven't cleaned anything, the dishes are piling up and I took a 4 hour nap this afternoon. I know, I am a total bum. Tomorrow I have to head to school to take placement tests, woohoo and that's about it. I hope that I come back motivated and ready to clean or bake or craft or something besides talk about my momentary obsession with Morels but now that we're on that topic I can't say enough how excited I am for the weekend rain. I think everyone at work secretly wants to kill me because rain and Morels and turning Philbert into a Mushroom Hunter is all I can talk about, that and my gas... you really don't want to know. Martha, slap me now for even mentioning that. Anyway I know everyone is probably sick and tired of hearing it but several trips without anything and several promised storms that never showed have me eager for one good hunt. I have been checking weather.com every hour and the rain is moving further into next week. We still have 40% chances Friday and Saturday but if we don't get rain those two days my chances will be shot. I'll be forced into afternoon hunts followed by rush hour traffic. There are worse things I suppose. Anyway, keep your finger's crossed and I promise... well hope for your sake that this is the last rant about fungi until the weekend's bountiful hunt!

I should have mentioned...

... that those popovers are really easy to make. Just use left over pate brisee (i make batches and freeze for up to 2 months in my freezer. it's something good to keep on hand especially with spring/summer berries and fruits on their way.) Roll out thicker than you would a regular pie crust (a little over 1/8") Cut into large squares. Use what you have an make it work, size isn't important. Using washed and prepared berries, peaches, apples, oranges, plums, etc.. (You can really use anything you like. Remember to clean stone fruits properly and cut up larger fruit into manageable pieces.) Add sugar and any zest, juice, spice or herb you like. I use citrus zests and juices in most of my Spring and Summer pies. The juice will not only add great taste but it will also prevent the fruit from oxidizing, preserving the brilliant colors and flavors in the finished pie. I especially like lemon and orange in Blueberry Pies. Tangelo would be amazing too. Ok before we get off track... The amount of sugar varies as I usually make these with what's around and the amount is always different. Sprinkle in enough to lightly coat the berries. Spoon the fruit onto one side of the triangle (*in the photo, I had barely any pate brisee and had to improvise with my amount and that is why I am using triangles. BUT in the theory it is the same, see how I've put the blueberries on one half of the triangle? That's what you're going for just with squares, does that make sense? Now I've gone and confused myself.) ANYWAY, leave a quarter to half inch border. Using an egg wash (1 egg + 1 TBS heavy cream (any dairy product works; yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream, etc... )You can also just use the egg.))) (<<<-----That was too many side thoughts, sorry I just want to be as helpful as possible.) Ok so brush the egg wash over those 2 borders you left around the fruit. Brush lightly, you don't want bubbles of scrambled egg in your pie, well maybe you do but I don't so easy does it. Fold the other side of the square over and seal by pressing firmly. Making sure your popover is sealed tight, move onto a Sil-Pat or foil or parchment paper line cookie sheet. Brush the entire popover with the egg wash and sprinkle with sugar. Using a sharp knife or kitchen shear make a 1" slit in the top for venting steam. Ok that's it, you're done. Pop them into a preheated 400 oven and check them in 20 mins. When checking you want to look at the color of the dough, is it as dark as you want it or does it need some more time. If it's as dark as you like or you're worried about burning, pull out and cover with foil. Use a kitchen towel and pat down the foil around each popover. Careful don't squish it. After 30-45 mins the popover will be finished. You can test the fruit by inserting a paring knife through the steam vent and into a piece of fruit. If it is tender-soft, it's done. Pair with ice cream or homemade whipped cream and it's an easy and amazing addition to any meal. Oh but don't forget to let them cool for at least 30 minutes before serving. Gosh, sorry I'm spaced, off in mushroom land, dreaming of Morels and rain. I might have to just suck it, strip, grab a drum and some chicken bones and do a little dance. It's gotta be in there somewhere. So anyway sorry for the insanity that is this post. I hope you were able to find something useful in it. I am off to watch the Simpsons and sip a diet coke and not clean... I'll do it tomorrow... we'll see.

TGIF g-dangit.

I am thrilled that the weekend is finally here. Lot's to do, morel hunting, visiting CHIC and meeting with an admissions representative and of course cleaning. I am getting better about keeping up with the household chores but I do have a long way to go. Managing clutter is the worst, I need to head to the container store! The craftroom closet needs a complete makeover and I need to buy a garbage can (I still can't believe we don't have one... it's a little ghetto.) I had an accidental nap today and was really disappointed we didn't get more rain. Oh well, we'll see tomorrow if the tiny showers we saw this morning were enough. Because of the nap I was unable to make bread but instead used some left over pate brisee and blueberries to make popovers. They were amazing and really got me stoked for summer fruits and berries. Can't wait. Well kids have a great night and will let you know how the hunt turns out tomorrow. Have to get to sleep so I can get up at 5 and head out.

Fiona's Forest Flops Again!

Yet again it was an unproductive hike in the mushroom hunting sense. Overall it was a great 3 hour hike. The frogs are back and plants are bursting out from the leaf litter. I did find some really nice Dryard's Saddle and spotted a possible moss galera but because several of the galarina fungi are toxic, I left it behind snapping a picture for further evaluation. It is important that anyone attempting to collect their own mushrooms make absolutely sure they are safe. If you can't identify it, don't pick it. It's really that serious. Now Morels on the other hand are very distinct and there is only one "false" Morel which really looks nothing like the original. I am still fairly new to this and bring my Mushroom encyclopedias with. I'll sit and study a mushroom while flipping through the pages. Even if it isn't edible it's worth knowing. I talked with Andrea, one of my favorites, and she had quite an amazing day (10+ WOW!) Congrats Monkey and good luck tomorrow. I am hoping the showers tomorrow and the cooler temperatures will be a perfect setting. If not I will persist. Even though I had a pleasant stroll in the woods, two things really started to... well, piss me off. First off, the trash in forest preserves has always been a problem but for some reason I really took notice today. It is everywhere. Old pop top beer cans, copper wire, broken bottles, sheet metal... the list goes on and on. It is just awful. This summer I'm going to have to organize a Big Clean, get some people together and haul out the garbage. It really needs it. The second problem I encountered was mountain bikers. When I first came upon Fiona's Forest (it's a secret place) it was an old forest preserve trail whose marker had rotted through and not many people knew about. On an average day I would never see another living soul and once in awhile I would come across a couple hikers and maybe someone riding their horse. It was heaven. This was back in the early 2000's and as the years went on I would see handful of cyclists each week and the next year that number would double. Normally their activity was limited to the weekends and I could always count on a mid-week stroll interrupted. This afternoon I was buzzed off the path by 5 different bikers. I also took a different path and saw the damage these guys are doing to the trails. In some areas the tire ruts were almost a foot deep, maybe more. It's insane! The ground is now torn up and uneven. Maybe I need to stick to my old trails but still this is a problem. The rangers have put up a sign stating the trail is closed when wet, "if you leave an imprint, you must leave." Kind of a bunch a B.S. if you ask me. Someone, I'm assuming the rangers, has gone through and cut down trees and vines to make the one quaint, natural hiking paths, wider, taller and littered with sawed off branches and piles of vines. Oh well, I'll stick to the back trails where hardly anyone visits and enjoy the peace and quiet. Saturday I plan to only spend an hour there and if I'm not lucky by then, I'll head off to a different spot. Hopefully I will strike gold somewhere, anywhere. I really wasn't joking about Whole Foods. I will go. I pray I won't have to but this urge has to be satisfied. Lot's to do tomorrow, I have successful put off finishing my painting project at work till the very last minute so tomorrow I am stuck there getting as much done as possible. Then a fun night of bread making and watching a movie with Chris. I hope that you were able to get out at least for a little bit today and that you're looking forward to tonight/tomorrow's rain as much as I am.

Daffodil Arrangement

Wasn't hard at all. Just did a simple arrangement and have about 3 dozen left over for smaller posies that can be spread around the apartment. The fragrance is so sweet and fills the air with their scent. It just makes me smile.
Also below is one of our Australian Blue Lobsters. He just molted and should be even bigger in a few days once is new exoskeleton forms. He is really just gorgeous.

Daffodil Days

I am so ready to get back out to the woods this weekend for more mushroom hunting. I can feel it in the air that I'm going to strike morel gold... if not from the ground then darnit from Whole Foods! Hahaha. Seriously though, I am so ready for Spring treasures and actually found a little urban gold this morning. It was a typical Tuesday at work, Cece had returned and told us of her adventures in Ohio. I volunteered to run out and pick up 2 dogs that mistakenly were forgotten from the transport list. I was happy to head out and even happier when mapquest misguided me in the wrong direction. Naturally I was worried about not being at work and how long it was taking but as soon as I saw a bed of wild daffodils alongside an overpass, I was willing to take whatever crap was in store upon my arrival. When I got home, I dragged Chris back to the overpass and quickly clipped about 6 dozen. They are so bright and full. Chris stayed in the car, questioning the legality of the situation and I ran off with my scissors and smile. Who knew that even in Chicago, a little uncontrolled nature would sneak in? It just got my blood pumping and ready for the hunt this weekend. Hopefully we'll get lots of morels and maybe some pixie rings if we're lucky. I also need to get these pressed flowers organized! So much to do and so little time to do it and on that note I need to get some arrangements put together, if they're good I'll post pictures later. If they're not so great... well we'll forget this blog ever happened. Oh and I am making dinner tonight I just don't know what it is, burger or chicken something. We'll see.

Orchids and Chicken, finger lickin good.

I took a little detour from cleaning yesterday as soon as I discovered a yellow ceramic vase I found while antique hunting ages ago. I had really wanted to do a tulip arrangement (all violets would have been really striking) but 3-4 dozen tulips somehow didn't find it's way into the budget this month. Instead I repotted my youngest orchids in the vintage pot. Hopefully with a little room to stretch their roots, these guys will go into full bloom. We're keeping our fingers crossed. If you're planting anything in a container without drainage holes remember to ad 1-2" of pea gravel in the bottom and water sparingly. This will prevent root rot and keep the plant happy and healthy. They really do look spectacular in our library and I'm sure they appreciate the change of venue. Tonight I kicked off my dinner plan with fried chicken sandwiches and broccoli drizzled but kind of drowning in browned garlic butter. So far so good, I'm starting like I usually do, optimistic. But the hard part is coming, I just have to stick with it and use what we have rather than jumping on grubhub. It's just too easy, g-dangit. Seriously, after a long day of pooper scooping and torture by bark sometimes I just don't feel like cooking. Well now I will have to! I really do, hold me to this people. In the past I have made it a few weeks before "delivery" finds it's way back into my vocabulary. So we'll just see. OK people I have to get to those dishes so I won't have 2 loads tomorrow. Hope you're Monday wasn't too dreadful.

Sunday Funday!

No morels! I should have read the blogs before heading out but it seems like next week will be perfect with a few storms and warmer weather. Today was just too cold. Oh well, c'est la vie, ay? This just gives me more time to clean. Chris works a double and my goal is to have the apartment immaculate. All the furniture needs to be moved and swept behind, ceilings dusted, dishes washed and the craft room might need some help from FEMA and the Red Cross. IT'S THAT BAD!!! I have so many half projects going on and need to finish them or box them up because the next big projects are already beginning. For Mother and Father's Days I am trying to find something really amazing for them. OK Mom and Dad, stop reading right now, the rest isn't important................................................ For Mom, I'm getting 4-5 huge planters and planting heirloom tomatoes, peppers and a variety herbs in them. If you haven't been to Loew's, Home Depot or any other Garden center in the past few years you probably haven't seen the spectacular, resin pots from Southern Patio Inc. They come in a wide variety of colors and because they aren't ceramic they are so light and durable. It's best when planting anything that requires lot's of water to use a non porous pot but still allowing a few drainage holes in the bottom. This is just one of the colors I have chosen for Mom's gift and don't you think she'll just love it? I do. Especially with gorgeous heirloom hybrids from Burpey's. If anyone is doing a similar project for their mother, remember to get your orders in before it's too late. Of course if you do run out of time, there are other nursery's that carry heirloom plants but you'll have less to select from and probably will end up paying a little more. It's ok, she's worth the extra $10. On top of the container garden I plan on making another recipe box, tomato themed of course and filling it with recipes that will utilize her crops. I think it will be darling and she'll hopefully be surprised... Mom I hope you haven't ruined your surprise! Anyway, for Dad I am scanning all of the family photos... and there are thousands. After all the photos are organized and scanned, they will be transferred onto discs for Dad (I'll also make several back ups for safe-keeping just in case anything should ever happen to the originals.) I also want to get my sister's in on this and all get together to put the pictures into photo albums, something Dad has been talking about for years. We should also update the old albums and eliminate that old "magnetic" paper he used. I just think a night scrap booking with the girls, some pizza and pinot grigio would be a recipe for too much fun. Girls, what do you think? It's virtually inexpensive but something that he'll cry over, not that that's too difficult, am I right or am I right? So those are the plans for them and oh where did this all begin... oh, the craft room. Yes, I need to clean it so I can utilize my table and tools. So why am I sitting here tell you all this, I need to get cleaning.


Oh, I couldn't pass up posting the picture of me as a child with one of my bountiful harvests. I would load up my old red wagon and go door to door selling fresh vegetables to my neighbors.

Changing the Plan is usually the Plan.

I did not get out to the woods today for some mushroom and flower hunting and a much needed hike. Instead I decided that I needed to start cleaning before I brought more things into the house. How sensible and who would have ever thought I would be sensible? I am just as shocked as you. I spent the morning tearing the refrigerator apart, scrubbing and binning some pretty disgusting stuff. I'm not sure why we had 3 open salsa containers or 5 varieties of jams and I would expect myself to come up with an excuse for the 3 half-filled apple butters but I simply can't. Such waste and as each item fell into the trash I kept thinking about the compost bin I so desperately want. Maybe I'll make one of those worm containers that you can keep in apartments but that is just one more item taking up very precious and limited space. For now I just need to be more diligent about making better use of what I have rather than being so quick to run to the grocery store. In that spirit I have started our weekly menu and plan to follow it, eat and use the leftovers and eat better! I'm very excited to start cooking on regular basis and hopefully this will get me into Martha mode with the household chores. I have been such a slacker and I really do think it has been the weather. All I want to do is sleep and watch TV. It could also be that I have been sick but now that I am feeling much better I am ready to get this apartment under control. So today I got the kitchen started and tomorrow morning I am waking up early to take Lucy foraging through Fiona's Forest with me. Yes, Lucy is getting a special trip all by her lonesome with her Pops but that's mostly because I would rather watch the surroundings rather than the dogs and the boys need my constant attention. Plus Lucy needs some 1 on 1 time, we both miss it occasionally. We're hoping to find lot's of flowers and if we're lucky we may even find some hearty Morels. Then back home for some more cleaning and if I'm up for it, I might even head into work to get some more painting done. If I don't I'll have to stay late this coming week so I'll just weigh the pros and con's during the hike. You're not fooled, eh? Yeah me either, I'll be staying late this week. No one wants to go into work on their day off if they don't have to... especially me. Speaking of work, new developments are happening in my career goals. I have become increasingly disappointed in my job. There are endless possible reasons for this but I can't seem to put my finger on it. I know that I am disappointed in my current facility and I could easily change that but haven't for a variety of excuses but there are other things that are telling me "this isn't for you." While I do want to continue working with animals and shelters, I no longer want to sit in a room for 7 hours a day, scooping poop and being barked at non stop. So what comes next? Well I've decided to go to pastry school. It mostly started on a whim, a "let's do this for fun to relieve the stress" type of thought but then I thought maybe I should be a little more serious about it. I love to bake and I'm pretty damn good at it if I do say so myself, my decorating skills are fairly good and well I think it would be fun. We'll see where this takes me but for now it's gonna be a crazy ride. Uh, how have we gone from procrastination for purification to mushrooms to a new journey? It's late, that's my only excuse. Now time for the season 1 finale of Six Feet Under. Goodnight and have a great Sunday. Get outside and explore, if you find any morels and want to share your spot, let us know.

It's finally Friday.

I started this week like all other weeks just chugging along with my sights set on Friday. This is a terrible way to start a Monday but somehow I managed to turn it around. I think it started Tuesday morning when I spent my break gathering and pressing flowers. Now I haven't made up my mind if it's wrong to pick flowers from garden boxes on the streets and because of that I act and feel like I'm smuggling heroin through customs; quickly picking bluebells and creeping phlox, shoving them into a canvas bag and shuffling off at the first sign of company. Don't think I'm picking over people's gardens, I only took a few and I think the boxes are planted by the city, maybe. However, I have devised a scheme to hijack a few dozen tulips and daffodils for a spring arrangement. Hey, flowers are super expensive and you gotta make do. Chris has absolutely forbid me to pillage the city planters. It's not like I would actually do it but it's fun to dream. I'll suck it up and pick up 3 dozen tulips from the florist... and pay for them of course. Anyway, after pressing the flowers in a phonebook, I just seemed more cheery even though it was 39 and raining. I think we need the warm sunny weather to stick! I am very anxious for spring and summer to start. I have several fun trips planned and tons of projects already in the works... in my mind of course. I can't wait to pick fresh berries, plant vegetables, head up to the family cottage in Wisconsin, go out garage sailing, shop the farmer's markets and more. I did well all winter and enjoyed each snow and every cold day but I have joined the rest of Chicago in dreams of 75 and sunny days spent outside. Tomorrow the high is 73 so I have to go hiking with the dogs and hunt for mushrooms and flowers. Sunday looks like rain and we'll just have to stay in and organize the pressed flowers and cook something amazing with the mushrooms (we'll see what I actually end up finding.) Hope you enjoy tomorrow as much as I will.

I Have a Parasite and an Excuse

Ok, I don't really know for sure if I have a parasite or not but right now it's the only probable explanation for what's going on with me right now. I have been sick as a dog and unable to concentrate over the migraines and stomach pains I am currently experiencing. I know, "Boo Hoo Baby Billy." Ok, I'll stop whining and get to the point; I promised you funion with onions and here it is. No pictures, like I said I'm sick. I promise more to come but it's totally not Martha to promise something and not follow through. So here we go...

Onion eggs are a little more tricky than beets but still fairly simple. Peel off the dry, papery skin of the onion (you can ask your grocer if you can grab a bunch of the loose skins that are already peeling off. I normally search through the onions and pick up the stray, large pieces of skin. If you know your grocer or produce supplier well, they might even save these for you, just ask and see what they are willing to do. I typically save the skins from my onions throughout the year, leaving them on the kitchen counter overnight to dry out before putting in an airtight container for storage.) You will also need cheese cloth and twist ties. Cut the cheese cloth into squares that are large enough to wrap around the egg completely with an inch or so extra. Lay one of these squares flat in the palm of your hand and place a large piece of the onion skin in the center. Stand the raw or blown out egg inside of the peel and wrap tightly. If you're onion skin is not large enough you can piece together smaller bits or leave some of the shell exposed. Wrap the cheese cloth tightly around the egg and use a twist tie to secure the end. Now in a large enamel or glass sauce pan fill with 5-8 cups of water and 2-4 tablespoons white vinegar. It's better to place the eggs in the sauce pan before filling it with water. If you are using blown out eggs place a dishtowel below the eggs and one above. The bottom towel will ensure that the eggs won't break and the top one will saturate the eggs and keep them submerged for the most part. If you are going to be hard boiling your eggs just drop and go. Bring to a boil and let roll for 8-12 minutes. Let cool and unwrap. Red onion turns brilliant magenta's and yellow becomes varying shades of gold and mustard. This is a fun and easy way to naturally dye eggs. If you find yourself in a bind or just want a fun new way to dye eggs this is a great, natural way to create stunning eggs.

Ok instead of a picture that is relevant I will share the glorious and gigantic goose eggs I bought from John's Live Poultry in Chicago. These of course have not been cleaned yet but they are still magnificent. To clean any egg first start with warm soap and water. I fill my sink with suds and scrub each egg with a sponge or acrylic Brillo pad. For tougher stains I like to use baking soda but you can also use vinegar. Vinegar will soften the shell so use sparingly. I'll scrub any soiled egg with a new, cheap tooth brush (I never understand why people demote they're old tooth brushes for cleaning. The bristles are damaged and won't really scrub anything. Just go out and buy a $0.99 toothbrush.) Sprinkle the baking soda over the stain and using a wet brush, gently scrub. Rinse all your eggs well because any residue will cause uneven dying.

Natural Dyes

Despite my advice, my pleas and warnings, you have waited till the last minute to get your egg dying supplies and now it's 8:15 PM, the friday before Easter, Jewel/Osco is out of food coloring and you're kids are crying because the Easter bunny procrastinated and said "they'll never run out of dye, it's impossible." Hey, IT'S POSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT never fear Billy Stewart is here to save you!!! So you haven't any food coloring, so the ef what? You can still dye eggs this year. Head out to your grocery store's produce section grab some beets and some onions (red or yellow work best.) You can certainly find other fruits and vegetables but in the interest of time we will just stick with these. If you have a juicer, great and if not, fine we'll work with what you have. First juice the beets in an electric juicer. If you don't have a juicer, puree and press through a fine meshed sieve. Use 1/2 cup of the juice and add 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Now dye like you would with any regular food coloring based dye bath.

Tomorrow I will go over dying with onion skins. If you want to do this go get the dry skin of yellow or red onions. Ask your grocer if you can pick through the bin and grab all the loose skins or buy in bulk. Mince and dehydrate the onions you won't need over the next 2 weeks and save for a soup or stir fry. Also grab some twist ties and cheese cloth, I know I have to. So I'll see you all in the cheese cloth section and then back here tomorrow for onion funion... I'm sick so I can say lame things like that.

Are you clumsy like me?

If so then you have broken a few of your eggs by now. I hope you haven't thrown them away yet because you can still use them. Of course the broken eggs are you're favorites and the ones you spent the most time on... MINE ARE! Bah, oh well, like I said they can still be used and they will still look amazing and no one will be the wiser. It's this simple: Take the broken egg, fill it with grass or colored cotton (I like to use a contrasting color to make it stand out) and stick a little pom pom chick in it. That's it. If you have large pieces, set them around the egg to give the impression of a hatching chick. Scatter them throughout your baskets or fill a nest with them for a unique and creative centerpiece. Disasters can be treasures if you look hard enough.

Madly Plaid

Creating a plaid pattern on an egg shell may seem difficult and time consuming but working in batches and with an easy color combination, one can make beautiful plaid eggs in no time at all. I work by the dozen and make 6 different dye baths. To start make the 3 primary and 3 secondary colors (red, blue, yellow, green, orange and purple.) Once you experiment with these try other combinations, I just find the 6 basic colors easiest and most effective.

Tape off a dozen eggs using 1/4" artist's tape. Eye ball the center of the egg (be careful because the hole you drilled can be misleading) and run 2 strands completely around the length of the egg, dividing it into quarters. Then run another piece completely around the circumference. Using a popsicle stick, bone folder or your finger name press down the tape to ensure there are no wrinkles or bubbles the dye can creep into. Using an exacto knife make a slit in the tape at each hole. Run the egg through a bamboo skewer like we did in the basics of dying only this time there should be no need for the sticky tack. If you were close to the points of the egg when "drilling" your holes to blow the contents out, the tape will be a sufficient support to hold the egg steady. Roll the eggs through their dye baths until you are satisfied with the tint (roll 4 eggs in each of the primary colors. Reserve the secondary colors for now.) After the eggs have dried remove from the skewer and remove all of the artist's tape.


Next tape of all the eggs with a 1/8" artist's tape. Using two pieces dived the colored 1/4 section of egg, now dividing the egg into eights. Next run two more pieces around the circumference, above and below the center white stripe. Leaving at least a 1/4" between the white stripe and the tape on either side.

Run the egg through a skewer the same way as you did for the first dye. Now spin these eggs through their second dye bath. If using the 6 basic colors suggested above this is how you should go about this step: Blue Eggs - 1 in Red, 1 in Yellow, 1 in Green and 1 in Purple. Red Eggs- 1 in Yellow, 1 in Blue, 1 in Orange and 1 Purple. Yellow Eggs- 1 in Blue, 1 in Red, 1 in Orange and 1 in Green. This will give you 12 gorgeous yet uniform eggs. After the eggs are completely dry pull off the tape. If you go too heavy on the first dye, some of the color might pull off with the tape. It's no big deal, the egg will look great anyway. If you go for too long in the second dye bath, the colors may bleed and the lines you've already created may blur slightly. Wear your favorite tacky golf shorts for inspiration and get mad for plaid this spring.