Browse Category: projects

Soggy Morning


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This morning I got up early and ran the Emerald Across the Bay 12K. We had to take a school bus to Sausalito, then ran across the GG Bridge, and through the Marina.

wet bridge

It was freezing cold and pouring rain too.  Luckily I was wearing my hat but Dot was not so lucky.  We made pretty good time despite the extra weight from our water-soaked clothes.

finish

The last half mile was a steep downhill and I was afraid of falling to my doom.  I managed to make it to the finish line in one piece and was rewarded by a veggie breakfast burrito without the egg.  Yum.  Only 13 more meatless, fishless, eggless meals to go!

New Game!

Lisa_the_Vegetarian.jpg

We just finished an 8-day trip filled with rich foods and tasty treats and our fridge is completely empty.  So, we’ve decided to start a new project, which we will call “The Veggie Experiment”.  Jes wanted to try eating like a vegetarian for one week.  Yep, you read it correctly.

For this week, here are the rules:

1) no beef, chicken, or pork
2) no fish
3) no eggs

Things that are ok to eat this week: dairy (yay cheese!), things made with eggs (like pasta).

Today was Day One and we went to Trader Joe’s to stock the fridge.  We bought lots of stuff that Jes would never try before but I was looking forward to trying lots of new items.  For dinner we had cheese quesadillas, black beans (Jes hates beans), salsa, and guac. Yum.

In the next few weeks we’ll add one of the forbidden items and work our way back up to being omnivores again.  It’ll start with adding eggs, then fish, and then the meats.  I’m curious to see how bacon tastes after this is over.  Does anyone want to join us?!

I totally rocked it!

sewing machine

Last week my PT partner asked me to make a gait belt for our patient and I said, “OK, but let me just figure out how to do it first.”  Yesterday I consulted with my mentor about what materials to use and the best way to assemble it and dove right in.  My biggest hesitance was tackling the industrial sewing machine that is notoriously prone to breakage but I figured it out.  I think my saving grace were the sewing classes I took last year.

two straps

Velcro

Once I got started, everything I learned came flowing back.  I pinned my materials, remembered how to turn the stitch, and even replaced the bobbin when it ran out.  This machine was awesome.  It stitched through 2 pieces of thick straps and Velcro without a single flinch.

X stitch

This morning I finished it up by adding a leash-like handle and it stitched through two straps, a piece of Velcro, and two more straps!  Amazing.

inside

So here is the finished product.  I actually ended up giving the belt a second set of stitching to smooth out the inner seam (see the bulges?) but I forgot to take a photo of it.

gait beltIt’s basically a belt that goes around a 2-year-old, closes in the back with Velcro, and has a looped strap that allows his parents to provide him support without having to bend down too far.  He’s a little wobbly and this will allow him to walk with his caretaker giving him a little extra stability.  Once he gets stronger, I suppose they can also use it as a leash the next time they go to an amusement park.  Haha.

action

Here’s the belt (and our little dude) in action.  Yay!

Sprouty Update: Day 45

Sprout Day 44

This photo was taken on Sunday and the eggling is still going strong. I added 3 more seeds last weekend and they’ve also sprouted! Yay!

Sprout Day 44

The original sprouts are growing their second set of leaves now, which is very egg-citing! Haha. I had to throw that in somehow. Anyway, at this rate, I should have some tasty basil to eat by summer. Keep ’em comin’!!

Sprouty Update: Day 22

sprout_22_closeup
Check it!  I gots me 2 mo’ sprouts!  Woot!

greenhouse jar

My greenhouse jar has done wonders for the little egg giving it just the right amount of humidity and moisture in the soil.  I knew I had other uses for all the spaghetti sauce jars that I refuse to throw away.  Reduce Reuse Recycle!!!

Sprout-tastic!

sprout_01

It’s Day 15 and I am pleasantly surprised to find that my basil egg has sprouted!!  There’s only one at the moment but there may be more down below just waiting to poke out of the soil.  Until then, I shall celebrate this one with a little sprout photoshoot.  Isn’t he cute?!

sprout_02

With the conditions in the house being so dry, I put a jar over the egg for a little greenhouse effect and I think that did the trick.  Yay!  Little Miss Black Thumb is learning!!