Making root beer

September 7, 2012

I mentioned the other day that Walker and I stumbled into a neat little shop that sells all sorts of herbs and things. We picked up all the roots we needed to make some root beer and got the process going to other evening. It’s a little like making actual beer as in you need sugars, something to boil (in this case roots), and a starter. Then you let it ferment and bottle it which makes it bubbly. There are lots of options for starters and we chose bakers yeast which I’m thinking I won’t like too much. It’s a trial and error kind of thing though so we’ll just see how it tastes. I’m skeptical…but excited to try again. I love homemade root beer!

Earlier this year I got Walker a book called The Art of Fermentation and there all are sorts of different ideas in there. I’m sure I’ll be sharing more of our experiments along the way.

Giveaway!

September 6, 2012

I have been meaning to do this giveaway for a while now! I thought since it’s now after Labor Day and the summer is basically over for most of us, it would be a good time for a little pick me up.
I’ll be giving away a piece of a purchase I made over the summer while camping with my mom. They are a bit difficult to explain so I took a few pictures to help. Basically though each heart shape when broken is half is 2 knives, 2 forks, and 2 scoops (or spoons). The idea is that you share it with someone you love. You both grab a side and split the heart and you are both able to eat your food. They are reusable and biodegradable. That’s pretty great! 10 hearts come in each box so that’s a a total of 20 heart parts (as the website says). Check them out here.

So I’ll be giving away one whole heart for you to share with someone you love. All you have to do is comment below with a favorite memory of yours from the summer. I can’t wait to hear your stories!

Hello seattle i’m here

September 5, 2012

I’m in Seattle now! Yesterday was such a crazy day. I woke up at 4 in the morning to get ready and head to the airport with all of my heavy bags. After 5 and a half hours of flying I arrived in Seattle where Walker sneaked up on my in the airport and gave me a big hug. We then drove to the apartment. Our friends who just moved out to Eugene, OR from Texas had been visiting Walker for the weekend. There was just enough time to have a coffee (or spiced cider in my case) and plan out Thanksgiving before they had to head off.

Back at the apartment I looked around, it being the first time I had seen it in person, and checked things out. I was also really tired from flying all day and hungry and rather overwhelmed to be now living in Seattle. Yesterday was a big day emotionally and physically (perhaps still just a little bit today), there was a lot to take it. This is the big city kids. A lot bigger than Austin and a whole heck of a lot bigger than my small town in Michigan. It’s going to take a fair amount of getting used to. I’m excited and terrified at the same time. Ha!

I would have been content to just fall asleep as soon as I got to town but instead we played frisbee in the park, had brunch at a pretty neat little restaurant (of which there are so many), went grocery shopping, stumbled upon a place that sells herbs so we got all the root herbs to make root beer, and then finally went home to make dinner together for the first time in our new place. It was a pretty fun day too and boy was I happy when I finally layed my head on the pillow to fall asleep. What will the coming days bring?