Things I love *Friday*

Are you excited for the three day weekend? I have to work, but I'm feeding off the energy put out by everyone else who will be off! Some things I love today are...

> sunshine pouring through my window
> two books: The Backyard Homestead by Madigan (less than two bucks NEW from the thrift store!) and Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
> a really cute blog about farming
> what a smart idea! Who cleans their dog's toys? I never have, but I think now I should. I gave her a bath yesterday and cleaned all her beds. She is soo yummy smelling and soft now.

What few things are you lovin today?

Gaviota Peak

A few friends and I went on a hike last week and I took this video:
Awesome view, right?! Here's a still picture, incase your computer doesn't like loading the video, like mine.

Within the first 100 yards of the hike, we found (I actually almost stepped on) a dead baby rattle snake and a bat! The snake was broken. So sad. (sorry about the funky angle, I don't know what happened there haha)


The bat story was really funny. We saw it on the ground, and thought it was dead, but once we saw it moving slightly, we realized we had to get it out of the path (and hot, bright sun) asap! While Buff and I walked back to take pictures of the snake, we heard Jeremy and Andy laughing really hard so we hurried back to find that the bat was FINE! lol As they were placing the stick it was lying on down in a shady spot the thing totally flew at Jeremy's face! hahahaha maybe it just needed to get out of the sun for a moment to get its senses back. I don't know, but yeah it was a pretty wild start to the hike!


Kittens have arrived on the adoption floor at ASAP, and there were, of course, tons of traffic at the shelter today. Another surprise was this morning when a young new arrival squeezed out 4 babies while a volunteer was cleaning nearby cages! God were they adorable...I want to foster kittens again!!! Too bad I don't have the room, money or the 'okay' for it, this time around. Next season! heeehee

PS. are my pictures too big? Do they bog down your computer?

Mosaic Wednesday!

1. Clara's blanket, 2. covered stool with hezlein, 3. Rainbows & Clouds, 4. a finished blanket, 5. DSC_0172 [800x600], 6. new patchwork cushions, 7. (wood &) wool garland, 8. crocheting granny squares, 9. Purple/lilac shawl back, 10. Crochet Flowers in Pink, 11. Necklace made from gift, 12. Spring in here!, 13. 006

I'll take a picture of my own little granny squares (which are actually hexagons, but that's okay!) one of these days. Right now I've got about 7 or so. I've got a loooong way to go :)

Time has legs?

It seems as if Time just rain away from me! I can't believe we're almost done with May already! Is everyone thinking of what they're going to do for their pops for Father's Day? I'm still thinking...

We pulled up some yummy cabbage and strawberries from the garden.


And the garden is looking lovely these days. We have a little rain a few days ago which was unexpected. Don't you love that fresh, cleaner look everything has afterwards?


Last week I saw a boy running away from the Juvenile Hall on Hollister and it brought me back to working at the group home just from a new perspective. The boys would run off campus any second they got, and we'd have to go chase them or call the cops, call their parents to notfiy them, restrain them, ground them, process with them, coach staff on the incident or any number of tactics...and here I was NOT HAVING TO! It was great hahaha i felt bad for the staff at JH, but oh did it feel great not experiencing that panic that was so abnormally routine for us at work.

I've been working on making new price cards for Fairview Gardens (with terrible luck, I may add) and I fiddled around with making new stamps. Non of which are going to be used haha. Still they are fun to make, don't you think?



Aww, Guinness and I went to the beach and I gave her free photo shoot. I think that was very generous of me, but she wasn't very interested in anything except the ball. haha





Tomorrow I go to my canning class! I'm excited for jam and pickles!

Finally--Salt!

I've chosen to do Mosaics on Wednesdays every week, so please--hold me to it! I've never done these weekly themed posts, but I'm excited to try it out. The first one here, is from my favorites on flickr - sunshine through windows being the more specific theme. I love all these places, don't you just want to go in there and create something, or read a good book or pot a new plant?



And onto the promised salt :) So so so delicious, everyone must make it! So I started with picking lavender from out front, then gather all the remaining ingredients together:





And put them all into the processor with some salt to help chop up the herbs:



Lastly, save some out to put in an easy dispenser, and seal the rest up in a safe container and store in the pantry. Voila! Easy, delicious, fresh and organic seasoned salt!

2:45am post

I just had to post before I went to bed, as it is WAY past my bedtime. I'm just so excited right now! I've been looking up Wwoof.nz.co for the past three hours. I've joined it on FB and think it's my ticket to NZ--with a purpose and career experience!

This book is amazing! the motifs are beautiful and in universal instructions (diagram) AND words. This is veerrrrry helpful. I also craftied up my life notebook. I stick everything in here. I write down random songs that I hear and love, paste in postcards and business cards, add in relevant newspaper clippings, write lists, etc as a recording of my time here at these crossroads.



And I've decided to do mosaic post once a week. Now just to decide which day.

I made delicious kale chips! If anyone wants the easy (almost silly) recipe for the most wonderful, crunchy, tangy lemon kale chips, let me know. I'm craving some right now as i look at this picture haha



Look at this strange spike that has erupted from our plant out front. Isn't it amazing?? I'm not sure what it's going to do, but it is so striking I had to photo it. Plus, it grows faster than ANYTHING I have ever seen. It has grown at least 3.5 feet in 2 weeks. Just amazing.



And the NEXT post, I promise will be of the salt hehe I just got too excited to skip this post tonight :) I hope all is well in your space tonight <3

A great weekend! I went to the 8th California Student Sustainability Coalition Spring 2010 Convergence down in San Diego this weekend and had a good time. I learned a lot, was inspired and met too many intelligent, hopeful and energetic students to mention. It's going to be a revolution! I'm excited :)

Before I left with my carpool from SLO, I went to a pizza (there's been a lot of this lately hasn't there?) night with a friend, and met a like 10 great new people! Here's our vegan pizza getting the slice:



My dad and I went to a greenhouse sale and I had to take a picture of all the green. I absolutely love green houses...aahhh i want one!



Afterward, we went to this pretty stream!



Next post....Seasoned Salt!