Congratulations To Emily and Chris!

I could not be happier for these two lovely souls.  I've written a couple of posts about Emily here and here.  The couple that met while hiking the Appalachian Trail, then set out on a new journey to Live Large in a small bus.  They tied the knot in Oregon during the eclipse!  Guess what she wore?
Her favorite Urban Mountain Traders shirt!

The journey continues on and I can't wait to see where they go, but together it will be a beautiful journey!

I wish you all the best life has to offer.

xoxo

Char

Tiny House Living in Small Bus

Remember my friend Emily Swift who hiked the AT last year?  (click on the link to read about it).  Well, here she is with Chris (her boyfriend that she met on the trail:) and they are ready to launch into a whole new nomadic adventure-Living large in a tiny bus while traveling the states.

Chris bought the bus at a school auction and converted it to run on used cooking oil.  This is not a cheap endeavor, but the reward is once it's done you can pretty much run for free.  If cooking oil is not available they also can switch over to run on diesel fuel.   Most small restaurants have to pay to have this waste product hauled away, so it's a win, win situation most of the time, and it's recycling!  They live to support small local business and hope to make some great connections in their journey.  We met for a crafted brew at the Crooked Ewe and everyone knew them there.  They let them fill up the bus while I filmed.

As a Union electrician Chris can go just about anywhere and find a job that pays a decent salary as  temporary help.  His job at IUSB just ended so they are headed to Memphis, TN his hometown to finish up the interior of the bus in a warmer climate.  They are making some custom cabinets to house  the already purchased appliances.  Will be adding solar panels, and a compostable toilet.

Emily will just go with the flow, take care of the dog and bus and work when needed.  She's thinking about something that she might be able to do out of the bus, like a handicraft, she's a creative gal and I'm sure she'll figure something out.

I'm hoping that they start blogging so that we will all be able to go on this fun journey with them!

Here's a personal tour of the bus and how it works.  Hang on tho,  I'm not that great with a hand held camera!

Tea Time

The days are getting shorter and the nights cooler.  Thats when I start to prepare for the long winter months that we all don't really want to think about quite yet.  I'm a coffee drinker in the wee hours but then I switch to a non-caffeinated tea so that I can sleep at night.  We keep our house at a pretty cool temperature in the winter, so if you aren't moving around you are covered by a blanket or drinking tea!  My fav is lemongrass and ginger.  It not only tastes great, but there are lots of healthy benefits to drinking natural herb teas.  I found a great link here for this tea. with all the great benefits.

Last summer I planted lemon grass in my herb garden and in the fall I cut it all off and stuck the grass in my freezer.  So all winter long I made the tea.  I also keep my ginger in the freezer so it doesn't spoil.  and just cut or use a peeler to shave off what I need.  You can even use the outside layer for tea so dry it or freeze it for later.  This summer I looked high and low for the lemongrass plant and potted it so I can bring it in this winter.  It's an annual so in our area it doesn't come back in the spring.  It's great with chicken cooked in coconut milk as well!

I cut about an inch of ginger into smaller pieces and use
a stem or two of the lemongrass, just wind it up in a ring
to fit inside your tea pot.  Steep for 3 minutes and remove.

I keep my pot under a tea cozy to keep it warm for a long
while.  Then you can microwave the reserve or drink it on ice.

Chair Re-hab

 When I want something new I first always go through my stash and see what I already own that I might be able to refurbish.  I decided to turn my sun room (that's connected to my kitchen) back into a dining room because I love looking out the windows while having my morning coffee.  I'm a daydreamer, it's just how I function best, and this is the perfect spot to do it.

 I had 2 of these oak Haywood Wakefield fiddle back chairs, and 2 French styled arm chairs (that were probably from an office because they were very sturdy, gloss varnish and vinyl upholstered seats, not pretty but good bones!

Since these are Haywood-Wakefield chairs I really didn't want
to paint them.  I just re-upholstered the seats with traditional pillow
ticking fabric.

I had intended to recover the backs, but they used tiny, long
staples in a small groove and there must have been a million of them!
If I could have gotten to them I would have most likely ruined the chair,
so I ended up priming and painting the fabric cream.  It's not a soft feel,
so I would never put it on a seat but the back of the chair is fine.

I used(left over from the cabinets) oil base paint for the chair.  I'm so over chalk paint.  I tried to
paint over another set of chairs that I painted and finished with wax and the paint will not stick.
They will all have to be stripped.
To replace the cording and add a little embellishment I went with a natural burlap webbing strip,
I used a fabric glue and stapled the ends.  Then added the cording also in a natural jute. 

They also pair well with my drop cloth draperies.

Close up of the details.

 I like to keep my dining room pretty neutral because I have a large collection of vintage dinnerware and depending on my mood or the season, it changes frequently.   This little bit of trim adds a nice rustic finish to a formal chair.  I have red accents (my small appliances and wool rugs) so the trim ties everything together.

The backs are also finished off with the trim.

I bought a vintage round oak table with carved cabriole legs, and fully intended on painting it but once I put everything together I like the warmth of the old wood and left it for now.

Musakka -A Favorite Summer Dish

My summertime favorite vegetable is eggplant and tomatoes (together) and right now my garden is rocking both of these.  Our very favorite is grilled eggplant layered with sliced tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella cheese, baked until the cheese melts and sprinkled with fresh basil.  If you think you don't like eggplant try this-it's a game changer.  

My friend Lisa shared her mom's recipe for Musakka and it has become a summer staple.  I had 6 nice sized eggplants so I made 2 pans for the freezer and one small one for dinner tonight.  I've made a few amendments to the recipe with wine and spices.

Start with 2 large eggplant chopped into bite sized pieces, sauté in olive oil until lightly browned and soft.  Pour into your greased baking dish.

Saute' 2 vadalia onions until slightly camelized and and add on top of the eggplant.

Next add garbanzo beans (I always buy a bag and soak and cook my own but you can buy canned).  One can should do it, I used one small bag of cooked beans for 2 small pans and 1 large just to use them up.  Make some hummus if you have left overs!

Spread the top with sliced tomatoes or cherry tomatoes.  I actually chopped mine and added lots to make some good liquid.  The recipe calls for 3/4 Cup of water, but I use wine for extra flavor (a dry chardonnay-It will be a nice pairing for the dinner!)  I also crushed some dried oregano (my homegrown) and will add fresh basil when it comes out of the oven.  Also salt and pepper.  Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour.

The other two pans were ready for the freezer as soon as I was finished making them. (I didn't bake them for an hour).  Everything that needed to be cooked was.  I'll get them out in the morning (this fall when I leave for work) and they will be ready to stick in the oven when I get home.  

I'm not a vegetarian because once in a great while I want a good organic steak or burger, but for the most part we are.  This is loaded with protein and is a great main dish if you are a veg head or side dish if you aren't.

If you are an eggplant lover, what are some of your favorite ways to fix it?  I'm always up for a new dish.

POP UP SHOP

Linda sold so much last August when I was the guest artist, that she invited me back for the Holiday Shopping Season.  I've been busy creating lots of new boho style jewelry and up cycled flannels.  Shop in a relaxing atmosphere and get a free fabric gift sack with your purchase.  Your wrapping will be done in elegant, sustainable style!  

Giving gifts that are one of a kind can make the recipiant feel like one in a million!

junk Evolution

528 East Colfax Avenue

South Bend, IN 46617

Corner of Hill and Colfax

with parking in the back

right next to CircaArts Gallery,

Inspire Me! 

and the Purple Porch (for a great healthy snack or meal)

Hours

10-6 Wed.-Fri.

10-4 Sat.

Jade beads with an Agate pendant

Asian style boho with jade beads.

natural stone beads from my travels

Show your heart with these up cycled flannels that are aged to perfection!