It's a Good Friday

I'm lucky enough to have off from work today, unlike many of my friends and family. The prospect of a free weekday by myself is daunting. How will I fill my free time, there's so much I could do! Before I overthought myself into a tizzy of errands and house chores, I decided to have some fun and dye eggs for Easter, something I haven't done since I've been a kid. I was so excited to get to the fun part I almost forgot that I had to hard boil the eggs first.

Cardboard egg cartons can be reused into fun jewelry drawer organizers. I spray painted my gold, 'cause I'm a classy lady.

It certainly has been a good Friday, making a mess in the kitchen. Now onto more responsible ways to spend my time. Sigh.

Just-In-Time-For-Easter Chicks

No too long ago I posted about having "Chicken Envy". Little did I know, all I needed was a trip into Lancaster County to get my chick fix. Last Saturday morning we had big plans to go to the Shady Maple Smorgasbord in Lancaster. Did the term "smorgasbord" pique your interest? Yes, it's a buffet like no other, because all the food is local and freshly prepared: meats, eggs, potatoes, danishes, pancakes, fruit, everything of the Pennsylvania Dutch variety. We started off the morning right, with a giant breakfast. Next on the agenda was shopping excursion at the nearby markets where we stocked up on canning supplies, seeds, and other outdoor can't-wait-for-summer items.

The Chicken Adventure began when we randomly stopped at a Tractor Supply Company, and spoke to a very knowledgeable woman about owning and caring for chickens. I learned a great deal speaking with her. Most importantly...

1. I can have up to 6 chickens where I live (no roosters)
2. I can have one goat (gasp)

It didn't take me long to decide we were going home with chickens. Unfortunately that store didn't have any chicks available. Fortunately, she told us where to go to get them and where to go for goats, because as I've said before, I kinda want a goat too... First stop was checking out the goats, because we definitely weren't taking home a goat today. This guy was also extraordinarily friendly and helpful, explaining the needs of a goat. Which really aren't much. In our climate he said all they need is a little shelter, and will eat anything in your yard, hopefully not Dante. Then we can enter him into the SlyFox Goat Race! But I shouldn't get ahead of myself. No goat today.

Onward towards getting some chicks! We arrived at another Tractor Supply Company where they had big containers of chicks peeping up a storm. We bought 2 Red Pullets, and 4 Speckled Sussex. (I was later informed by fellow blogger and self-proclaimed "crazy chicken lady" that the Red Pullets are Rhode Island Reds). The Sussex are "straightline" so you can't tell the sex until they're older. So, if any turn out to be roosters, we'll sell them or trade them for more chicks.

• 6 Chicks $12
• Giant bag of pine shavings $5
• Giant bag of chick food $20
• Food and Water Feeder $10
• Heat Lamp and extra bulb $10
• Backyard Chicken Magazine $5

Because there are six of them, well, we couldn't resist naming them Rachel, Ross, Joey, Monica, Chandler, and Phoebe...

Joey

Rachel

Now I should mention that Emily and her roommate will be going "halvsies"  on the chickens. How? Well, they will be brooding our chicks for the first month since Dante seems a little too curious about the chicks. Then when they have all their feathers they'll live in our yard. And of course we'll be splitting the delicious eggs they produce. And there you have it! Chickens! Now we have a month to build a coop...

(Don't Think About the Calories) Mushroom Soup

The most indulgent thing I make, and love to eat, is mushroom soup. I adore mushrooms to begin with, but this soup is creamy and earthy and sinfully good. I say "sinfully" because butter and heavy cream are it's main components. My mom used to make this soup, but not often, making it more desired. When I finally asked her how to make it she said, "Oh, it's real easy, just do mushrooms and onions softened in butter, vermouth, beef broth, flour to thicken it, salt and pepper and finish with heavy cream." My mother is an extraordinary cook, but she's not the best at explaining how she makes things. Since then, I think I have perfected my variation. Last night we binged on soup and homemade bread. We barely had to wash the dishes.

• 2 Packages of Cremini mushrooms
• 1 onion
• 1 stick of unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup Dry Vermouth
• 3 Cups of beef broth
• 2 tablespoons of flour
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• Teaspoon of onion powder
• Salt & Pepper

Start with deep pan. Put a stick of butter in and start warming it. Slice the mushrooms thinly. I cheat and use a mandolin on it's middle setting. Slice the onion as well (same thickness). Add these to your warm butter, heat on medium high. We're not trying to get the mushrooms browned, just infused with butter.

They'll cook down, about 10 minutes, and leave a mushroom and butter infused liquid. Use a slotted spoon to scoop out half of the mushrooms and onions, they'll be reserved for more texture.

Turn the heat down to a low simmer, add the vermouth, and let it cook off for a minute. Then add the broth. Then the flour. Give it a stir. Then I use an immersion blender right in the pan and puree everything. If you don't have a blender, or you want all chunks, I would whisk the flour into the broth in a separate pan before you add it to the soup. Otherwise you won't be able to efficiently whisk out the flour lumps.

Add salt, pepper and onion powder to taste. And make sure you do taste it before the cream is added.

Add the reserved fungi. Add the heavy cream, and taste again. This should make about 4 respectable portions, or 2 ravenous portions. What it lacks in presentation, it makes up for 10 fold in flavor. Enjoy immediately with warm crusty bread and a Sauvignon Blanc.

The Doctor Returns!

Oh it's times like these I do wish we paid for cable. One of my favorite series is returning this Saturday the 30th, Doctor Who. If there's any ounce in your being that enjoys a bit of "sci-fi", please take off work for the next week and catch yourself up, starting with the rebooted Series 9 (the older ones will probably turn you off altogether). Even better, they're all on Instant Netflix for your viewing pleasure. So in honor of the Doctor, here's some Whovian lovlies. Allonsy!

A printable Timey Wimey poster.

Adorable interpretation of the Tenth Doctor, the artist also does River song and others.

TARDIS baby onesie. No babies here, but it's still cute.

Love this artwork! Saw it on Teefury awhile ago, so unfortunately it's not available in Tee form anymore

Vision in the Desert

I made these for personal downloading and/or printing. This is a photo from our "would be" home in Apple Valley, CA. You can get the font here. It's called "One Direction". Little did I know, it's the font of the UK boy band... Eh, I still like it.

Recommended Viewing: Safety Not Guaranteed

I grew up without cable television, which was quite the social hardship from the ages of 7-17. And now that I'm an adult, with my own my money and my own house, I still don't have cable. But don't worry, now it's my choice. In our minds we've just got better things to spend our money on. But that doesn't mean I don't like to watch television series or movies, not at all, I can couch potato with the best of them. Instead we use our X-Box to stream Netflix and Hulu, and it's perfect for us. Instant Netflix has a great selection of movies but sometimes it's hard to sift through all the titles. That's why I'd like to share when we find something we particularly like.

Safety Not Guaranteed:

I think we initially chose this movie because it stars Aubrey Plaza. The girl who is insistently grumpy and sarcastic in all her roles, but in an endearing likeable way. Plaza plays a twentysomething, Darius, interning at a Seattle-based magazine; and doesn't seem to be happy with her life, or what she's doing with it. She gets assigned to cover a story of a man who continually runs an ad in the paper for someone to go back in time with him. Wanted: Somebody to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. P.O. Box 91 Ocean View, WA 99393. You'll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. I have only done this once before. SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED.

Darius and staff writer Jeff, played by Jake Johnson, from "New Girl", trek to a small seaside town to investigate what kind of person thinks they can go back in time. Is he serious, or is he just a lunatic? After some snooping they find the home of Kenneth, Mark Duplass, from "The League". When Jeff's journalistic aggression scares Kenneth off, Darius is charged with using her "feminine wiles" to their advantage, pretending that she is applying to his ad to be his traveling companion. As Kenneth trains her for their time travel, Darius begins to connect with another person for the first time in her adult life...

Don't worry, no spoilers here. We both thoroughly enjoyed the movie. It was humorous, but in a subdued indie sort of way. It was heartfelt at times, but I didn't cry. I liked how I was actually unsure how everything would pan out. I didn't know until the very end whether Kenneth truly had a time machine or he was just a paranoid delusional conspiracy theorist. The relationship of Darius and Kenneth is really sweet, especially at a point when Kenneth sings a song (written for another girl) on his zither by their campsite fire. We suspect that Duplass is actually playing, so bonus points. There's also a few subplots about Jeff reconnecting with a girlfriend from his past that don't detract from the overall movie flow. Overall four stars from us.

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Import your Google Reader List into Bloglovin

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Google has announced Google Reader will be no more coming up July 1st. Bloglovin can conveniently import your Reader list. So add mine while you're at it, thanks!

*If you have never used either, Bloglovin is a way to keep track of all the blogs you like or visit frequently. All the new posts are displayed in a feed so you can get to the posts that interest you most.

A Spring Encounter

Get this free "Garden" font, here.

My Dr. Bronner's PSA

It's almost time for "Spring Cleaning", when we can open windows and let the fresh air come in. I like to take the opportunity to really do an intense cleaning of the house, because I'll be honest, I don't do it that often. It's been a few years since I've been trying to switch out all of our harsh chemicals in the house to more natural options. And my first lesson was in the benefits of Castile soap, which is a type of soap made from a vegetable oil base. A very popular brand is Dr. Bronner's, and for good reason. It comes in a variety of scents, which are derived from natural oils like ones shown below. It's mild, yet powerful, and is useful in so many ways. Here is a few ways I use it...

A Patty's Day Blessing

I love stouts in general, but in my heart, and in my belly, there is always a place for a Guinness. In 2006 my travel companion and I actually survived our hosteling excursion in Dublin practically on Guinness alone when we had little money left. We figured the Guinness would sustain us because of all it's vitamins... I've been to the mecca of Guinness twice on two different trips, arguably the only "must see" of Dublin, The Guinness Storehouse. It's like Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, for adults. Although having a pint from the source is far better than what's distributed outside the Emerald Isle, I still drink it here all the same. Happy Saint Patrick's Day; enjoy it however you celebrate!

* Looks like today I'll be enjoying some Irish Carbomb Cupcakes that Emily from Growing Wild Ginger made, mmm.

Grilled Ploughman Sandwich

Despite all the seductive promises of Spring, we're experiencing a small meteorological set back this Saint Patrick's Day Weekend. It started snowing gently this morning and now we've progressing to a full on "icy mix". Blerg. Luckily for us, our fridge was prepared for such an occasion, stocked with a Whiskey Dubliner cheese and Farmhouse Chutney from Di Bruno Brother's. I decided to make a Ploughman Sandwich to match the dreary weather. Ploughmans and Chutneys are not common Stateside, but they are tasty all the same. A typical Ploughman sandwich is, at it's simplest, bread cheese and sweet pickle. But I changed it up a bit by grilling it like a regular grilled cheese. Commence with the grilling!

I generally don't have all these ingredients on hand, but it's worth starting off with top notch components.

• Chewy bread (I used a homemade loaf on hand)
• Cheddar cheese, medium sliced (I used the Whiskey Dubliner, and yes, you can taste the whiskey)
• A farmhouse-style chutney or sweet pickle (Try Branston Pickle)
• Microgreens, such as watercress
• Bacon grease or butter

Warm a griddle or cast iron skillet and melt some flavorful bacon grease, or butter. Slice up the bread into half inch pieces and layer on the cheese. Make sure the cheese isn't too thick or it won't melt properly, one layer is plenty. Add the sandwiches in the greased pan. Flip occasionally, try not to lose any cheese or burn yourself in the process. When the sandwiches are grilled to perfection, you could eat them then, OR carefully pry apart the ooey gooeyness and spread some chutney, and sprinkle some greens inside. Immediately enjoy with a stout or ale. Sláinte!

Pin & Post Respectfully

I love using Pinterest along with 25 million others. But as Pinterest's popularity has grown exponentially it has become a place to curate images as well as divert traffic to respective blogs. Because the world wide web is a free-for-all of images and links it's easy to pin things without the original source, steal ideas and magically make it your own. Now that I'm trying to blog consistently, it has come to my attention that there must be a certain etiquette for pinning and posting alike. It's important to be respectful of other's work whether it be a recipe, photograph or design.

Yesterday I received an e-mail from Pinterest which informed me that one of my pins was removed from a board because the artist requested it to be taken from Pinterest altogether, not necessarily because of my specific pin.

"While many copyright owners are happy to have their content Pinned on Pinterest, we recognize that some do not want their content to appear on Pinterest. Where, as here, a copyright owner notifies us that they want their content removed under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA"), it is our policy to remove the allegedly infringing Pin, as well as all other Pins that contain the same content if the copyright owners so chooses."

Since Pinterest assured me I'm "blameless" I didn't think anything of it.  Later on I happened to follow the LINKwithlove button on My Scandinavian Home. What's that?

"LINKwithlove is the idea that we, the internet, can teach and learn respect when dealing with intellectual property* online. It is our dream that art, music, photography, words, design, ideas, etc - be shared in a way that is ethical, respectful, educated and kind."

Recommended Listening: Serena Ryder

Photo Copyright Serena Ryder/Atlantic Records

Check out Canadian Serena Ryder's Stompa. Catchy as all get out.

Tokens of Ireland

Saint Patrick's Day is this Sunday! March is flying by, and holidays are fleeting too, so here are some items that can remind you of the Emerald Isle all year long...

All the items shown can be found on Etsy.

1. European Travel Destination Poster featuring Dublin from Loose Petals

2. Tiny Celtic Knot Earrings Handcrafted streling silver by Cook on Strike

3. Miniature Irish Cottage from hand painted paper clay by Homespun Ireland

4. Beer Soap Collection including: Murphy's Stout &Vanilla, Irish Stout and Charcoal, and Man Soap, from Dr K Soap Company

5. Antique Ireland Map from The Old Map Shop

6. Ireland Photography from Green Goose Gallery

7. Irish Linen Thread, 100 yards from In a Bind Supplies

8. Large Coptic Journal handsewn, featuring a 1954 Gulliver's Travels book cover from Amy L Burns

Chicken Envy

Photo Credit: Joe Sartore

I have self-diagnosed Chicken Envy. It's nothing serious, yet. It seems as though the whole Suburban Homesteading movement is taking hold, and with it are a bunch of adorable chickens living in peoples backyards. Chickens aren't just for farms anymore! I want to join in the fun so very much, but a few things keep cropping up like,

• Do I really have time to care for these?
• There are a million and one other home projects that should take time/money precedence
• Technically speaking it's not legal to own farm animals on less than 2 acres in my Suburbia

But still, I want chickens! I love the thought of fresh eggs and just having some more animals around besides Dante and my husband (badum pshh). About a year ago we put an offer in for a parcel of land in the Mojave Desert with the intent to eventually move and live sustainability "off the grid". You can view the mini tour here. Maintaining some livestock was obviously in the planning, but even though that California Dream fell through I still would like to have some chickens. And a goat or two. And bees. And a Tilapia pond. But I digress...

Chickens! No loud rooster, just tiny bug-eatin', compost-makin', egg producers. Sigh. So while I lust over others' chickens I will continue to do research and plan. We'd probably build our own coop, but here are few designs I like, from simple to elaborate (for super posh chickens).

Chicken Direct Aston Chicken Coop

Williams-Sonoma Rustic Coop & Run

Williams-Sonoma Alexandria Chicken Coop & Run

Country Living Chez Poulet - Comes with plans to build your own

Here are some of the chicken rearing resources I've been looking at:

The Chicken Chick

Backyard Chickens

My Pet Chicken

Community Chickens

Scratch Cradle

The Garden Rooftop

UPDATE: We got some chickens weeks after writing this post, chicken envious no longer.

The Dandelion: 124 S. 18th St, Philadelphia

Get it? Dandy...Lion? How clever.

I have yet to have a meal at a Stephen Starr restaurant that has left me wanting. And yesterday was no exception. We took Chris' mom to The Dandelion near Rittenhouse Square for a Birthday Brunch. The Dandelion is styled as a British pub, and probably a lot nicer than a regular old British pub too, serving their takes on traditional British pub food, Bangers and Mash, Cottage Pie, Sunday Roasts... As luck would have it, this past weekend was the first taste of spring Philly has seen this winter; a gorgeous time to be out enjoying good food and drink with good company. This wasn't my first experience with The Dandelion, but it was the first sit-down meal I've had.

If the rooms of the restaurant had names, we were in the Dog Room. Stately grey wainscoting with rich emerald walls covered in framed paintings and artwork of dogs. Daschund print curtains, and "Mans Best Friend" lighting. We started off with some drinks, a Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout for me, and my mother in law got a flight of cask drawn ales. The waitress recommended the scones to start off, and how glad we were to take her advice. Best scone I've had since, since well... England! Warm scones arrived with raspberry jam and yes, clotted cream. The scones were so delicious they incited discussion of  Chris's grandmother's Irish recipe for scones, as well as, Googling how to make clotted cream. Perhaps a post for another day...

With each bite I replaced both jam and clotted cream.

After we had savored them to the last bite, we ordered two Full English Breakfasts and an Eggs Benedict. I went with the Full English because it just seemed like the right thing to do. When I lived and studied in London, as a student I had very little funds, so my Full English's at the local cafe were not as expertly prepared as this.  

Gotta get a little of everything in each bite

Heinz Baked Beans, check. Cumberland Sausage, check. Fried Tomato, check. Mushroom, check. Additionally there was a phenomenal piece of blood pudding. It was so fresh and seasoned to perfection that it made me forget what's it made of. My only complaint, if I were pressed to complain, is that the bacon was American "streaky bacon" and not traditional back bacon. What's the difference? And that certainly did not detract from the deliciousness of the meal. As I greedily wiped my plate clean and took my last bit of Stout, I sat back in my squashy cushioned bench and thought about when I could nap. Spot on, Dandelion. Cheers!

Spring Ahead!

In honor of Daylight Savings Time here in the Eastern Standard part of the world, I thought I'd post some springy watches. Yay for more daylight!

Anne Klein, $65

Betsey Johnson, $95

Marc Jacobs, $200

Adidas, $93

International Women's Day: How To Be A Woman

Truth be told, I had no idea it was International Women's Day until Google's homepage told me this morning. And usually I don't go for "this sort of stuff", but I am a woman and I thought I'd share a book I've read that really changed my views on "feminism".

“We need to reclaim the word 'feminism'. We need the word 'feminism' back real bad. When statistics come in saying that only 29% of American women would describe themselves as feminist - and only 42% of British women - I used to think, What do you think feminism IS, ladies? What part of 'liberation for women' is not for you? Is it freedom to vote? The right not to be owned by the man you marry? The campaign for equal pay? 'Vogue' by Madonna? Jeans? Did all that good shit GET ON YOUR NERVES? Or were you just DRUNK AT THE TIME OF THE SURVEY?” ― Caitlin Moran, How to Be a Woman

Caitlin Moran is a British broadcaster, TV presenter and columnist at The Times, and I'm pretty certain since this book has been published, she's gotten a whole lot more popular (check out this fansite, fuckyeahcaitlinmoran). I think I came across it as suggested reading on Amazon, or the like, and I was put off immediately. "Why on Earth do I need to know how to be a woman, I am a woman?! What is this feminism she's peddling?" And then I began reading an excerpt from a chapter entitled, "Why You Shouldn't Have Children". And although I'd very much like children, I have thought about it as an actual life decision rather than my whole purpose for existence. And it seems that Moran has a similar view... And with a click of the mouse I bought it, full price (that doesn't happen often!).

Moran's writing style is just how I'd imagine her speaking, with lots of CAPS, asides, and exclamations! The entire book is literally laugh out loud humorous. I'd be reading in the other room and my husband would say, "Are you reading that funny feminism book again?" Yes! Moran single-handedly turned me on a 180° course toward proudly being a feminist. Because up until I read it, I was ashamed of bawdy women making demands that frankly seemed outdated. And I'd like to think that it's just a product of me growing up in a time when I didn't have to struggle for equality, or that I never thought I couldn't be the CEO of a company, or that I never had to worry about my right to vote. Why do we need feminism if there is nothing left to fight for in this country? Moran brings up a great point from the get-go.

"a) Do you have a vagina? and
b) Do you want to be in charge of it?

If you said 'yes' to both, then congratulations! You're a feminist.” 

A compelling argument. She breaks down the book into Chapters of her own life, giving history and perspective from her experiences. Chapter titles include, "I Start Bleeding!", "I Become Furry!" and "I Don't Know What to Call My Breasts!" and so on. If anything, I could relate with her on a lot of topics, things that you probably wouldn't have talked to anyone else about as you went through it. And by the end of the book she became a feminist hero, and a person I'd love to share a pint or two with and go dancing.

 A few of my favorite quotes that just may get you to read...

"If I'm going to spunk £500 on a pair of designer shoes, it's going to be a pair that I can (a) dance to "Bad Romance" in and (b) will allow me to run away from a murderer, should one suddenly decide to give chase. That's the minimum I ask from my footwear. To be able to dance in it, and for it not to get me murdered."

"When a woman says, ‘I have nothing to wear!’, what she really means is, ‘There’s nothing here for who I’m supposed to be today."

"Now I believe that there are only four things a grown, modern woman should have: a pair of yellow shoes (they unexpectedly go with everything), a friend who will come and post bail at 4am, a fail safe pie recipe, and a proper muff. A big, hairy minge. A lovely furry moof that looks – when she sits, naked – as if she has a marmoset sitting in her lap. A tame marmoset, that she can send off to pickpocket things, should she so need it – like that trained monkey in Raiders of the Lost Ark."

Moranthology is currently on my reading list.

"A Period of Juvenile Prosperity": Mike Brodie

Talk about adventure. Photographer Mike Brodie, aka the Polaroid Kidd, spent 10 years hopping freight trains and covered the expanse of 50,000 miles and 46 states. His latest exhibition, entitled "A Period of Juvenile Prosperity" opened today at the Yossi Milo Gallery in NYC. Additionally a book will be released, A Period of Juvenile Prosperity, published by Twin Palms.

  

The Philadelphia Flower Shower

This year the theme of Philadelphia Flower Show is a tribute to "all things British". I was extra excited about this particular theme as a person who has lived in London for grad school and as an all-around-anglophile. I went with my mother, grandfather and aunt, all of whom have an extensive knowledge and hands on practice with gardening and the science of horticulture (they know what they're talking about). And we all had the same overall thought about the shows theme: "Eh, a bit disappointing."

I was expecting to see things like this...

Little cottages with clusters of flowers. Photo Source: Peter Barritt

Impressive amounts of rose bushes. Photo Source: WindyCornerUSA

Walled gardens and giant Hydrangeas. Photo Source: Everton Downs

Some inspiration from designs of Cath Kidston (shown) or Liberty of London

But it felt more like neatly planted flowers with something "British" plunked in the middle, like a phonebooth, or Big Ben, or The Beatles. So I wasn't necessarily overwhelmed with a sense of Britishness in the flowers. But hey, that's just me. There were lots of displays that I did enjoy...

 The Gates of Buckingham Palace were flowerfied at the entrance.

Living walls were very popular in the displays.

And my favorite of the day were the aspects of English literary whimsy with a nod to The Lord of the Rings and Alice in Wonderland.

Even though the show didn't quite meet my expectations, it's still wonderful to be surrounded by the sights and smells of the flora, and to know that Spring is right around the corner!