"Where the watermelons grow"

This year on a whim I added watermelon to the garden... since you can't really have summer without it. Unfortunately, although cute, the melons' flavor proved lackluster.

FAQs

Ok, there are really only two questions I get asked in regards to the blog... but it just seemed fun to create an FAQs page. Here it goes...

Q. Where does your blog name come from? What does "pilliebee" mean?

A. Pilliebee is derived from a childhood nickname, Pill Brain Feather, bestowed upon me by my sister. It just came out of her mouth one day and in hindsight she attached the following meanings: Pill from "Jill the Pill," Brain because I did well in school, and Feather she has no idea... "I think it just sounded good." I suppose it should really be "Pillie B." but oh well.

Q. Are you going to open an etsy shop?
A. No, probably not. I prefer to work out trades, although I have sold a few projects.

Anything else you want to know? My favorite color is green and if I could be any animal in the world I'd likely choose a cat.

Peach Tomato Salsa

The other night my aunt brought over a giant bowl of beautiful tomatoes. We still had some peaches left over from canning earlier in the week... recipe here.

More Box Bags

A couple more box bags. One for a birthday girl and the other for a soon to be traveling graduate. Yep, these are pretty addictive.

Food Cravings

I'm not sure what is worse... craving something vague that you can't quite put your finger on, or craving something so specific that it's difficult to replicate?

My mom lost a favorite recipe years ago for a delicious bean salad. No matter how hard she's hunted for it she can't seem to find the exact recipe. Yesterday I made a bean and tomato salad that came close...

It's so entirely simple I can tell it to you right here: 1 can cannelinni beans, pint of cherry tomatoes cut in half, 4 green onions chopped, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. (Thanks, Martha!)

You just mix it all up together. The recipe I was trying to duplicate had radishes so I tossed some of those in as well. We both really loved the salad (my sister too), but I don't think it was quite the same thing.

Then later in the day I was so mondo craving these cookies. The trouble is... that recipe is packed up in a box located deep in my storage unit at this very moment. I did a quick search for oatmeal raisin recipes that don't include cinnamon or nutmeg (a little difficult to find).

I finally just started using a recipe after only glancing at it... took me halfway through to realize that not only did the recipe not call for flour, it didn't call for a rising agent either... I was not headed for the desired results. I added some flour and baking soda and hoped for the best. But of course it was too dry... after various attempts at achieving the right consistency I finally baked the cookies (which took forever). They taste ok... but definitely not what I originally had in mind.

But to be fair to the cookies... I was also in a rush to get out the door to hear these sweet songs at the Doug Fir.

So what do you think is more difficult to quell... a super specific craving or a very vague one?

Aqua Apron

This apron was to say: "Thank-you-for-the-boxes-Happy-Housewarming-you're-a-great-hostess!"

Box Bag

I made a little home for my future sock. Someday... someday I will cast on for my second Jaywalker... and when I do, it will live in this little bag. In the meantime, I think I'll just use it to store the supplies all nice and tidy. But really, I need to finish that pair of socks!

This box was made via a tutorial here. It's a pretty easy project... but the tutorial is bare bones. If you try it out, it might take you a little extra time to figure out the fourth step... I know it's not just my brain that had problems, I looked into it!

Regardless, I made a few mistakes (not counting the mistake of taking the photo right in front of the compost bin). If you notice, when zipped the zipper is at the opposite end of the handle. I don't like that. I actually even tried to think it through so that the zipper and handle would meet, but looks like I foiled myself. The other mistake is that the tiny Pilliebee label is upside down... however, it's likely that will only ever bother me.

I predict a few more box bags in my near future. Anyone want one?

Bagels

I have never been so excited to open the oven. I was watching the timer count down and calling out the minutes... What could possibly get me so worked up? Homemade vegan bagels, of course!

Last Friday while in a restless mood, I heard this story on NPR. One of the takeaway points (for me at least) was the frugality of making your own bagels. I was intrigued.

I researched a few recipes and found, well, kind of a horrible one. It seemed pretty easy and basically too good to be true. So little effort. Turns out... soggy bread is not very appetizing. And it's never good when your mom admits to "choking it down." I won't even share that recipe with you...

Luckily, I know of a little something called perseverance. Yesterday I found a new recipe and tried again. If you were present in the kitchen you would have heard me exclaim, "Wow! These bagels are already light years ahead of the other ones!" at just about every stage of the process. I was a little giddy with excitement.

Here's the recipe I used. I added a half teaspoon of garlic powder for flavor as well as about a fourth of a cup (I didn't really measure) of nutritional yeast for flavor and protein.

I liked the entire process of bagel making so much (from the kneading to the eating), I'm actually making them again right now. But I also think listening to this goodness contributes to the enjoyment.

More Summer in Pictures & Google Reader

I'm really having fun with my summer photo project. I'm taking a photo a day this summer to help me remember as many moments as possible! There have only been a few times where it gets a bit past the good lighting hour and I realize I've yet to shoot anything...(and I bet it's pretty obvious when you look at the photos as a set).

Here are a few more favorite shots:

And the full set is here.

Jumping to Google Reader. Amy at Angry Chicken mentioned Google Reader in a post a few days ago. I've been holding out subscribing to any such organization site (including Blogger itself) because I like the little surprise of clicking on a link and not knowing if there's something new and exciting on the other end. But really... it's not all that practical if you have limited time on the internet. And there are those moments when I feel like a cyber stalker because I'm convinced if I click it just one more time the blog will magically update. Never works.

I've plugged in all the links on my sidebar... but what are some of your favorite blogs?

Order your aprons in advance...

I completely forgot I made this apron. And it's a cute one too!

A friend of a friend has taken a liking to my aprons. She's made it well known that she expects a Pilliebee apron at her bridal shower... whenever that may be. Fearing future circumstances might impede apron availability, an order was put in early.

I had creative freedom over this project so I decided to copy a photo of an apron I saw on Craftster. I couldn't find a similar pattern for the apron itself... so, a little trial and error was in order. Eventually it all came together... although I ditched the second pocket.

I hope the recipient likes it... although it may be awhile before she sees it... she still has to wait for the proposal, afterall. (And I'm pretty certain she doesn't read my blog...)

Pinwheel Purse

Carly thought her purse needed a little something extra... and I agree.

It needed a pinwheel!

(Pattern from Wild Olive)

Early Birthday Pouches

It's kind of neat when you can procrastinate by being productive. I wasn't in the mood to pack a few weeks ago... so I decided I needed to make early birthday gifts for the most immediate birthdays I'll be missing (due to secret mission to be explained at a later date).

I'm finally feeling comfortable sewing in zippers which made these little pouches a quickish project.

I think they turned out nicely.