Goodbye / Hello

I am so excited to finally reveal Pocket Pause, with "Tails" of my family's adventures: our follies while learning to farm, and the joys i get from food, cooking and practicing fiber arts. Yay! If you are a long - time reader of An Austin Homestead, you will love Pocket Pause, even if we left you back in Texas. While Pocket Pause will have an Oregonian angle, my focus will always be on sustainability, which transcends all borders. Watch for the occasional post from Pocket, our blog's namesake and the best little corgi in the world. PS, Pocket is a girl.

Head on over and browse around the new site, and feel free to comment with feedback on what you'd like to see more or less of. You can expect to read lots of posts about local hikes and travel destinations in Oregon, delicious and easy recipes, local and national resources for sustainably grown meat and veggies, tutorials and DIY tips, helpful links and more! Pocket Pause will be a week day blog, with 3-5 posts a week. Looking for more tips on DIY beauty products or herbal medicine? Check out Bathtime, our sister blog for weekly posts about natural bathing, healing and fun using herbs and essential oils.

Please join me in wishing An Austin Homestead a big "good-bye" and i hope you will check out, and hopefully stick around, Pocket Pause for many more of the posts you have enjoyed here and will continue to enjoy there. I'm so proud to have built up such a loyal following. I'm sure I will lose many of you in this transition, but i hope many of you will follow me, Pocket and the husband to our new blogging destination. Hint: i'm working on some "giveaways" as added incentive ;)

Who's with me? Will you follow me to Pocket Pause?

Homemade Toothpowder - DIY Tutorial

Are you looking for my great, easy and cheap tooth powder recipe? It moved! Check out the new location at Pocket Pause!

Here's an excerpt:

As my long-term readers know, i like to save money and packaging by making all natural alternatives to common and oft-used around the house products. I make all our soap, i try to can or freeze most of our preserved foods, i buy bulk and use reusable handmade bags, and i especially like to keep my family healthy by keeping almost all commercially made body products out of our house. Products like tooth paste. Did you know that sodium laureth sulfate, the same stuff used to make commercial shampoos rather, is in most toothpaste? Have you read the ingredients on most toothpastes in the store... if you have you'll see lots of chemicals, flavors, colors and other artificial nastiness. And flouride. I have mixed feelings on flouride, but despite my dentist's opinion on the stuff, he checked out my teeth as 'problem free' in my last visit.... after i'd switched to making my own tooth powder. I've been using my tooth powder for about 1.5 years. My last dentist appointment was also about 1.5 years ago, before the tooth powder. I had 2 supposed cavities and gingivitis. Commercial toothpaste: cavities and gingivitis. Homemade tooth powder: no cavities or gingivitis and a clean bill of mouth health. Want to make some for yourself? I thought so: Homemade Tooth Powder

Greetings from Corvallis

In a rare appearance together, may i introduce Miranda and Andy Rommel:

Yup, that's me and the husband! We had a fun time at the Indoor Winter Market last weekend, peddling our wares and chatting with the locals. It was sure cold, though! Keen to hear more about Nude Soap's public appearances? (ha). "Like" Nude Soap on Facebook for all the most current news and announcements.

I'm crazy busy working on the new blog, so forgive me for my brevity!

New Favorite Toy: Dutch Oven

I love my newest kitchen toy. Basic, multi-purpose, last a lifetime good: it's a dutch oven. It takes up a lot of space, that i really don't have in this apartment kitchen, but it's worth it!

Remember that delicious bread i baked the other day? That was all thanks to my dutch oven! Mimicking the environment of a super hot bakery oven, my bread turned out as good or better than that fancy artisanal bread you find at the store for $5.00 or more.

Do you remember my mentioning my inexperience with cooking meat? I no longer have to think and can bust out the MOST DELICIOUS roasts and other meaty/veggie dishes with ease and minimal effort. Just toss meat, veggies, some herbs and wine into my dutch oven and bake low and slow to enjoy with minimal dishes or time spent in the kitchen. I think i about crawled INTO the dutch oven to lick up every last bit of this pork shoulder roast. The fresh hedgehog mushrooms from The Mushroomery didn't hurt either.

I'd like to say that i got my new dutch oven at the thriftstore where i work, but i actually got this oven new from Wayfair.com. I did get a set of two cast iron pans, one with a lid passed down from my step-dad for Christmas that i have been loving equally. So now i'm set! I found a few Revereware pots and pans from work, and have begun removing all the non-stick pans and pots from my drawers. I'm so happy to get away from those chemical lined pieces, and back to good old fashioned (and really functional!) cast iron and copper lined stainless steel. The nonsticks were great when they were new, but one use of a pizza cutter or immersion blender in those pots and pans chipped up that coating and cooking with them fills me with malaise.

How about you? Do you love nonstick cookware, or are you a fan of cast iron/stainless steel?

Fiber Fridays: Holey Cashmere

Both my husband and I love wearing cashmere. Most of our cashmere sweaters come from various thrift stores for cheap, and almost all have developed little holes over time. I'm mostly okay with holey sweaters, holey thrift store sweaters, that is. I'm not as okay with finding my favorite "purchased new from Macy's as a Christmas present from my husband" sweaters with moth holes in them. Cedar has been installed in the closet, let me tell you!

So, a few little holes is okay.... but one of my husband's sweaters is more holes than sweater at this point... and this isn't the worst one:

I have some plans on fixing my holey sweaters with some cute felted or stitched patterns: picture little applique felted stars stitched over the hole, or just stitching along the border of the hole to make 'cute' holes. That's not so cool for a man's sweater though, so it is my goal to attempt 'darning.' I SHOULD go tot he yarn shop and try to find some fine wool yarn to use, but instead i just spun some that isn't quite fine enough and is pretty close in color to most of our sweaters.

I've never darned before, but upon reading in a super cool knitter's magazine that i wanted but couldn't afford, i think i have a good idea on how to do it. Wish me luck!

Any tips, ideas, advice on how to reclaim/ re-purpose holey cashmere?

I Felted a Hat!

My friends were looking at me REALLY funny as i crocheted this giant "hat." I mean giant. Huge. Really massive, indeed! This, in fact is what it looked like when i tried it on:

No wonder they thought i was a nutcase. But i'm not a nutcase at all! (well, actually i kind of am, but that is beside the point) This giant hat was destined to be felted down to a normal hat size... and it almost worked. This was my very first felted hat experiement. I followed a pattern i found on Ravelry.com, and mostly did it right. The resultant hat is way thick, still a bit large and will definitely keep me warm and dry on even the soggiest camping nights. I wanted a rain hat, and i got one --- just maybe a bit thicker than i had anticipated. (Apologies for the blurry camera phone pics)

After wash #1

After wash #2

After wash cycle #3: we've got it!

Here's the original pattern:

Copyright Eleanor Howe

 My hat:

Not a total success, as you can see. It's kind of cute, and very warm... but also kind of huge still. Or as my darling husband would say "helmut-esque". Grr. I'm not sure if the yarn was too thick, my crochet hook was too big, i didn't felt it enough, or what... I wish the pattern maker would post pics of the hat BEFORE it's crocheted.  This was a great learning experience though, and 3 wash cycles later i have myself a decent, albeit REALLY warm hat to wear when i'm out tending the future sheep. Next time, i think i'll use lighter weight yarn. ;) In fact, i'm about to get spinning with some gray roving that will be destined for my second try... i hope it's a winner!

Have you ever felted a garment? Did you do it on purpose or was it a "laundry mistake"?

Pro-biotic Guacamole

It's avocado season, which means time for guacamole! We cooked up some pork tacos last night and served it up with some shredded cabbage salad (in season) and some pro-biotic guacamole. Pork can be tricky to digest, so i like to serve it either with pectin rich foods (apples, raisins, pineapple, etc) or with yogurt. Since tomatoes aren't in season, i like to mix up my 'winter' guacamole to feature what is in season or on hand, and homemade yogurt is always around this house. Delicious, nutritious, and a digestive aid to boot, this guac is super fly!

Probiotic Guacamole

• 1 to 2 whole avocados, sliced the "right way"
• 1 T homemade mayo
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup homemade or "real" yogurt with active cultures (read, not yoplait)
• 1 clove garlic, finely diced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Smush up the avocado and add the other ingredients. Whip up until blended and serve! You may omit the mayo, but i really like mayo so i can't resist using it in mayo-friendly recipes. As it is, this guacamole is choc full of good fats and has that added benefit of live yogurt cultures to help you digest your main dish and maintain overall good health. Wahoo! I think i'll go make some more tacos so that i have an excuse to make this AGAIN!

Do you have a favorite alternative-preparation for your favorite recipes?

Emerald Valley Salsa: Go Local?

Since moving away from Oregon in about 2004 (to live in Savannah, GA then Pleasantville, NY, then Austin, TX), one of the local foods i have missed the most is Emerald Valley Salsa. Fresh ingredients, just the right amount of spicy, no sugar or msg or any other nasties including preservatives added, this local salsa was only found close to the source.



But sadly, i returned to find that although E.V. is still delicious, it is no longer local. They sold out. You can see subtle differences in the packaging: the logo and ingredients are no longer printed directly on the plastic tubs, they're just stickers affixed to the lid and sides. The salsa seems to taste pretty much the same, but now i'm purchasing what used to be concocted and made up right down the road in Eugene, OR is now manufactured in Kent, Washington** by a company based in Salinas, CA. That puts a few more miles on my favorite condiment before it ever reaches my local market. It also lost a few (25 or so) local jobs. Monterey Gourmet Foods took over Emerald Valley, and although the salsa is still organic and still delicious, it's just not quite the same knowing that my favorite local condiment is no longer as local.
** The article sourced for that information is a bit old, and the packaging on EVsalsa now reads 'manufactured in Fullerton, CA. Dang, even further away.

It seems that even Mel Bankoff, who founded the company in Eugene in 1983 is nonplussed by the change his big-dollar sell-out made to the quality and mission behind his product:

Bankoff sold Emerald Valley Kitchen in 2002 to Monterey, then Monterey Pasta Co., for $5.5 million. He stayed on to head Monterey's organics division but said he grew disillusioned as top management changed and didn't exhibit the commitment to organics and employees that he advocated. Three years later, Bankoff resigned.

-OregonLive .com

So,  a few jobs lost, a few miles added to my 'carbon footprint' and 1 disolusioned business owner later, I just have to settle with my Washington made salsa. It is still pretty delicious, i have to say.

Have you ever had a favorite local product, only to find out that it was no longer local?

Solar Flares?

There were some solar flares recently.... and in case you didn't know: solar flares make Auroras! Aurora Borealis... the other one... ha. I don't know much about the Northern Lights, except that they're really really cool and i've never seen them. Thus this post: I want to see YOUR Northern Lights pictures!

Join my flickr group and post your shots, i'll choose my favorites to post here in a few days (if i receive any entries at all, and i hope i do!).

Do you live somewhere with regular auroras?

The Yaquina Spin In

I sure had a blast spinning, knitting and selling some Nude Soap to the wonderful attendees of the Newport Spin-in last weekend. Spinning sure isn't only an 'ancient' art form. We spinners filled the cafeteria of the Newport Middle School with wheels, fiber, tall tales and fine yarn. Some highlights:

It's Avocado Season, Y'all

Quick! Run to the grocery store and stock up on in-season avocados! Those little gems full of "good" fat and lovely flavor are usually expeeeensive, but not so when in season. Watch for sales and prices under .75 cents a fruit (2 for $1.00 at Grocery Outlet, baby), and stock up. You may wonder: what will i do with all those avocados? They ripen suddenly and need to be utilized at the 'best' point in their ripeness to take advantage of their flavor, but never fear: you CAN put by avocados!

Love guacamole? Enjoy it all year, even when the avocado prices are absurd: buy avocados in bulk when they're cheap, and store them in the freezer!

1. Buy a whole mess of avocadoes
2. Wait for them to ripen (nice and soft, but not rotty-mush)
3. Cut open avocados *the right way* and scoop flesh out into a bowl
4. Sprinkle a small amount of citric acid or lime juice and salt over the fruit and mush together
5. Fill freezer bags with the avocado mush, label and store in the freezer.

Your frozen avocado will make great guacamole (be careful when you mix it up, as the avocado is already limey/tangy), ice cream, assorted dips or sandwich spread. Now get on out there and buy some avocados!

*No, avocados aren't local, but if you're in the south they're close to local, and even cheaper than they are up here in the PacNW. Try and choose Mexican avocados for the fewest border crossings.

I *heart* the Oregon Coast

I can't help it: i like to shoot into the sun, especially when it's setting over Ona Beach.

I cannot express how happy I am to be back on the west coast. An ocean just isn't as lovely without a sun setting over it.

*happy sigh

"My" Bread

I'm so excited! My husband bought me the book "My Bread" for my birthday TWO years ago, and i finally made a loaf! What was i waiting for, you may ask? Several things: losing enough weight to warrant baking artisanal bread (not-check), having a reason to bake a loaf of special bread (check), acquiring a dutch oven (check!). The dutch oven was the main impediment, and thanks to Wayfair, i was lucky enough to receive a lovely 6 quart dutch oven. I spent just a few minutes Thursday night and a few more Friday morning and bam: artisan bread!

You can find the free recipe for this bread online, plus two bonus recipes here and of course plenty more if you can get your hands on the book from your library or local bookstore. I used the olive bread recipe, and added fresh rosemary to boot. It was delicious and my friends didn't believe me when i told them i baked it. I almost didn't believe me myself! Unlike most artisan bread that i've eaten, this bread was MOIST in the middle. Great crust, gorgeous appearance and moist moist MOIST center. Awesome. Really awesome.

The husband did not get to enjoy this fresh bread, as i took it with me on a trip to the coast for the Newport Spin-In. I guess I'll just have to whip up another batch, ay?

Have you tried the "no knead" bread method?

TUTORIAL: Crocheted Market Bags -Step 2

Before we begin building the height of this bag, i'd like to introduce an alternative method for starting the base. It's easier than the first method i posted, so i hope you're not mad at me for wasting any time or curse words over the original pattern.

Instead of slip stitch joining the begining circle, simple skip the slip stitch and work the pattern in a SPIRAL. Using this method, you will always crochet around the entire chain, instead of the stitch at the top of hte 'posts.' This will make a more flexible mesh that is probably stronger than the first way i showed you. To build the round base, simply chain 1 more between double or triple crochets in each round. This is also how i usually make this bag... i guess i got excited by a recent hat pattern i was following that used the slip stitch method and decided to use it for this pattern... but perhaps i was wrong to do so.

Note, for a visual on how to triple crochet, visit the Flickr Group!

Okay, now it's time for some height! And it's so easy! Simply stop increasing and continue to chain the same number for the next dozen or so rounds. We left off at round 6, so here's the rest of the pattern:

Round 7-15/20: Ch 5, TC (triple crochet) around previous row's chain, crocheting all the way around the chain, not into the stitch, repeat all the way around for 13 or more rounds. (no need to move your market, just leave it where it is to help you count rounds)
Next Round: Ch4, DC (around the whole chain), *CH1, DC *repeat three times per mesh hole all the way around
Next Round: When you get all the way around, slip stitch into the next verticle mesh post/dc and tie 2 knots
Tie another piece of yarn, or a double up piece of string and weave it through the holes you just created at the top of the bag to create a draw string.

Admire your work! 
Mine turned out pretty huge, great or long term storage or big shopping purchases, but you may prefer to make many smaller bags that are more conducive to purchase a few apples or tomatoes, etc.

The size of your bag will depend on a few things: the size of your string, the size of your crochet hook, the tightness of your stitches, how large you decided to make your base and continue your height. If you want a large bag with smaller mesh, simply choose a tinier hook, finer string, and crochet more rounds to create the same effect. It is important, though to not let the 'holes' of the mesh get too large, or objects will slip out! SO use your common sense, play with this pattern and make it your own! But please, do follow the rules of the *disclaimer below.

These bags really are strong, especially if you choose quality string. I hope you enjoy your new bag, and that you'll comment back with all the fun things you use them for!


*Our market bag pattern, and all tutorials found on this site are presented for your personal use only. Tutorials and/or objects made from my tutorials may not be sold commercially (that includes Etsy or Ravelry!). If you want to sell something based on one of my tutorials, please email me at gonudesoap at gmail dot com and we'll try to work out a fair deal. Please play nicely!

Goat Stew

Woo hoo, i'm a stew fiend now! After my very first attempt at stew, i've gained confidence and am comfy just throwing things in and letting them 'stew' away all day. With delicious results!

Remember those shoulder steaks i picked up from Winn's Livestock and Hatchery? We thawed em out, chopped em up and tossed them with some flour and seasonings before cooking them slowly in my new dutch oven. By leaving the bones in, we got the benefit of the marrow infused into the stew liquids. Yum.

Goat Stew

• 2 goat shoulder steaks, chopped, fat included
•  Sprig fresh rosemary
• Bay leaf
• 2 carrots
• 3 potatoes
• 5 cloves garlic
• 1 onion/ 1 leek
• 2 dried chillis
• 1 bunch radishes
• canned corn
• Splash red wine
• Water to cover meat/veg
• Salt/pepper
• Flour to coat (about a handful)

Cut the meat and toss it with the herbs and flour and toss into a pre-heated dutch oven. Brown meat by stirring about, but don't cook through. Add chopped onions, leeks and garlic and stir. Add potatoes and liquid to cover the meat and veg. Let come to a boil then turn way down, cover and let simmer for hours. Add carrots about halfway through. Adding a splash of apple cider vinigar a few minutes before serving is fun, too. The canned corn goes in right at the end. The vinegar helps to "lift" the flavor.

I topped the stew off with some baby arugula which added brightness, bite and some necessary green veg. Someone asked 'but how did it taste' about the ground goatmeat we had in our chilli recently, and i wasn't sure. This time, though: i can report. GOOD! Meaty, tender, lean, but just enough decadent to make it comfort food. Lunch leftovers never tasted so good.

Is it still stew season in your neck of the woods?

Weekend Outing - Come to the Spin In!

Interested in fiber arts? Want to learn how to spin? Just want to check out a whole bunch of folks practicing their olde-timey craft? Head over to Newport this Saturday, and get all those hankerings met!

Newport Spin-In

Saturday February 4, 2012

Hosted by: Yaquina Fiber Arts Guild

Northwest Regional Spinners Association Area 6060

Location: Newport Intermediate School

825 NE 7th Street

Newport, OR 97364

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Admission: $4.00

Food and beverages are available for a modest fee, or byo

Come and check out the vendors, the spinners, new friends and plenty of folks eager to chat and show you their craft. I'll be there with Clementine, my spinning wheel, and a small Nude Soap booth. I would love to meet YOU so stop by the Bellwether Wool stand to say hello to me and my favorite fiber supplier, and maybe pick up a few bars of soap or a bag of Wenslydale roving. While you're at the coast, grab some fresh seafood, check out the Newport Aquarium, or just take a stroll on the beach (if it's not pouring and screaming wind!)

Hope to see you there!