Friday, July 31, 2009

Blessings Friday: Toilet Paper

Over the years I’ve formed a special mantra to remind me I’m responsible for my own happiness: When life gives you poop, it’s your responsibility to buy the toilet paper. I don’t actually use the word poop, though—I use a different expression, but it’s my way of injecting humor into challenges faced. A story making email rounds came to me via my friend Peggy and illustrates exactly what I mean.


Source: Wikimedia

You know the feeling....

When you have to visit a public bathroom, you usually find a line of women, so you smile politely and take your place. Once it's your turn, you check for feet under the stall doors. Every stall is occupied. Finally, a door opens and you dash in, nearly knocking down the woman leaving the stall.

You get in to find the door won't latch. It doesn't matter, the wait has been so long you are about to wet your pants. The dispenser for the modern 'seat covers' (invented by someone's Mom, no doubt) is handy, but empty. You would hang your purse on the door hook if there was one, but there isn't—so you carefully but quickly drape it around your neck, (Mom would turn over in her grave if you put it on the FLOOR!), yank down your pants, and assume 'The Stance'.


Souce: Clean Seat Holland

In this position your aging, toneless thigh muscles begin to shake. You'd love to sit down, but you certainly hadn't taken time to wipe the seat or lay toilet paper on it, so you hold 'The Stance.'

To take your mind off your trembling thighs, you reach for what you discover to be the empty toilet paper dispenser. In your mind, you can hear your mother's voice saying, “Honey, if you had tried to clean the seat, you would have KNOWN there was no toilet paper!” Your thighs shake more.


Source: Truman College

You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday, the one still in your purse. (Oh yeah, the purse around your neck, that now you have to hold up trying not to strangle yourself at the same time). That would have to do. You crumple it in the puffiest way possible. It's still smaller than your thumbnail.

Someone pushes your door open because the latch doesn't work. The door hits your purse hanging around your neck in front of your chest, and you and your purse topple backward against the tank of the toilet. “Occupied!” you scream as you reach for the door, dropping your precious, tiny, crumpled tissue in a puddle on the floor, lose your footing altogether, and slide down directly onto the toilet seat.


Source: Laid Back Think Tank

It is wet of course. You bolt up, knowing all too well that it's too late. Your bare bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and life form on the uncovered seat because YOU never laid down toilet paper—not that there was any even if you had taken time to try. You know your mother would be utterly appalled if she knew, because you're certain her bare bottom never touched a public toilet seat because frankly, dear, “You just don't KNOW what kind of diseases you could get.”

By this time, the automatic sensor on the back of the toilet is so confused that it flushes, propelling a stream of water like a fire hose against the inside of the bowl that sprays a fine mist of water that covers your butt and runs down your legs and into your shoes. The flush somehow sucks everything down with such force that you grab onto the empty toilet paper dispenser for fear of being dragged in, too.

At this point, you give up. You're soaked by the spewing water and the wet toilet seat. You're exhausted. You try to wipe with a gum wrapper you found in your pocket and then slink out inconspicuously to the sinks.

You can't figure out how to operate the faucets with the automatic sensors, so you wipe your hands with spit and a dry paper towel and walk past the line of women still waiting.


Source: eHow

You are no longer able to smile politely to them. A kind soul at the very end of the line points out a piece of toilet paper trailing from your shoe. (Where was that when you NEEDED it?) You yank the paper from your shoe, plunk it in the woman's hand and tell her warmly, “Here, you just might need this.”

As you exit, you spot your hubby who has long since entered, used, and left the men's restroom. Annoyed, he asks, “What took you so long, and why is your purse hanging around your neck?”


Source: Signs Online

This is dedicated to women everywhere who deal with a public restrooms (rest??? you've GOT to be kidding!). It finally explains to men what really does take us so long. It also answers their other commonly asked questions about why women go to the restroom in pairs—it’s so the other gal can hold the door, hang onto your purse and hand you Kleenex under the door.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Travel First Aid Kit

We’re traveling again soon; we have three trips scheduled—one each for October, November, and December. A post on Maya Made last week reminded me about the necessity of including a first aid kit in our packing.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved


I’m not a doctor and, therefore, am not making recommendations on what should be in your first aid kit. Maya Made’s choices gave me a good list to consider; from that I made my own shopping list to supplement what’s already in my medicine cabinet.

  • Arnica Spray: external use for muscle aches and pains, as well as bruises from falls
  • Arnica Montana Pellets: dissolves in the mouth for reducing pain, swelling, and discoloration from bruises
  • Burt’s Bees Res-Q Ointment: aids in healing wounds, cuts, burns and bruises
  • Rescue Remedy: for relief of occasional stress or anxiety
  • EcoGuard Bandages: latex-free
  • Desert Essence Towelettes: contains lavender, tea tree, and palmarosa
  • Neosporin: antibiotic ointment
  • Tylenol
  • Aloe Vera Ointment: for minor cuts, burns, insect bites, irritations, and sunburn

© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved


Maya Made provides a tutorial for making a first-aid envelope, including an adaptation for using it with a belt. I have a small bag previously made using a pattern from Amy Karol’s book Bend the Rules and am using that instead. Everything tucks quite neatly inside.


Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Do It Yourself Hot Stone Massage

I love massages, but they’re not cheap. So I’ve figured out a way to get what I need in a more affordable way. My husband and I decided we’ll learn some massage techniques and then treat each other.

To supplement regular massages for our aching muscles and joints, a hot stone massage makes for a blissful experience. I’ve collected what we need--basalt river rocks, a book about massage techniques, and a stone warmer.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved


You need approximately 33 stones: 8 large, 6 medium, 10 small, and 8 very small ones to put between your toes. You can buy the rocks or find them in a riverbed. My sister and I drove up to Apache Junction on Monday and spent the day floating down the Salt River on inner tubes to escape Arizona’s heat. There were gazillions of lovely smooth river stones—gifts of nature.

You can buy a stone warmer at beauty supply stores, but you can also just use an old crock-pot, just be careful you can control the temperature appropriately. Put in your stones and water, making sure the stones are completely submerged, but don’t overfill your pot. In addition to stones, the warmer heats mud, algae and other massage products for varying type therapies.

We’re going to give our new do-it-yourself tools a try this weekend. First I’ll make a bottle of homemade massage oil to use with a recipe found at Pioneer
Thinking for a massage oil called “Muscular Aches Pain”.

Resources

  • A Step-By-Step Guide To The Hot Stone Massage at LifeScript
  • Create Your Own Home Spa Experience at LifeScript
  • 5 Simple Steps to Create Your Own Hot Stone Kit for Massages at The Free Library
  • Herbal Magic: Customize Your Massage Oil at The Herb Companion
  • Hot Stone Massage And Other Relaxation Techniques at Relaxation
  • Hot Stone Massage Therapy videos on YouTube
  • How to Give a Hot Stone Massage at How to Do Things

Monday, July 27, 2009

Daring Bakers July Challenge: Mallows and Milan Cookies

The July Daring Bakers' challenge was hosted by Nicole at Sweet Tooth. She chose Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Cookies and Milan Cookies from pastry chef Gale Gand of the Food Network.

I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of making these two types of cookies. The homemade marshmallow component was made in advance to save me some time; otherwise, all went pretty quickly.

Mallows (Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Cookies)


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Prep Time: 10 min
Inactive Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 10 min
Serves: about 2 dozen cookies

  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/8 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 12 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 eggs, whisked together
  • Homemade marshmallows, recipe follows
  • Chocolate glaze, recipe follows
  1. In a mixer with the paddle attachment, blend the dry ingredients.
  2. On low speed, add the butter and mix until sandy.
  3. Add the eggs and mix until combine.
  4. Form the dough into a disk, wrap with cling-film or parchment and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
  5. When ready to bake, grease a cookie sheet or line it with parchment paper or a silicon mat.
    Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  6. Roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thickness, on a lightly floured surface. Use a 1- to 1½-inches cookie cutter to cut out small rounds of dough.
  7. Transfer to the prepared pan and bake for 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Let cool to room temperature.
  8. Pipe a “kiss” of marshmallow onto each cookie. Let set at room temperature for 2 hours.
  9. Line a cookie sheet with parchment or silicon mat.
  10. One at a time, gently drop the marshmallow-topped cookies into the hot chocolate glaze.
  11. Lift out with a fork and let excess chocolate drip back into the bowl.
  12. Place on the prepared pan and let set at room temperature until the coating is firm, about 1 to 2 hours.
Homemade Marshmallows


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

I made the marshmallows a couple of days in advance. To keep them from sticking together, I cut them into small blocks and rolled them in powdered sugar. When time came to use them, it was simply a matter of heating them so they melted for piping onto the cookies.
  • ¼ cup water
  • ¼ cup light corn syrup
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon powdered gelatin
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • 2 egg whites, room temperature
  • ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  1. In a saucepan, combine the water, corn syrup, and sugar, bring to a boil until “soft-ball” stage, or 235 degrees on a candy thermometer.
  2. Sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water and let dissolve.
  3. Remove the syrup from the heat, add the gelatin, and mix.
  4. Whip the whites until soft peaks form and pour the syrup into the whites.
  5. Add the vanilla and continue whipping until stiff.
  6. Transfer to a pastry bag.
Chocolate Glaze
  • 12 ounces semisweet chocolate
  • 2 ounces cocoa butter or vegetable oil
Melt the 2 ingredients together in the top of a double boiler or a bowl set over barely simmering water.

Milan Cookies


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Prep Time: 20 min
Inactive Prep Time: 0 min
Cook Time: 1 hr 0 min
Serves: about 3 dozen cookies

  • 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 2½ cups powdered sugar
  • 7/8 cup egg whites (from about 6 eggs)
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons lemon extract
  • 1½ cups all purpose flour
  • Cookie filling, recipe follows
Cookie Filling
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • 1 orange, zested
  1. In a mixer with paddle attachment cream the butter and the sugar.
  2. Add the egg whites gradually and then mix in the vanilla and lemon extracts.
  3. Add the flour and mix until just well mixed.
  4. With a small (¼-inch) plain tip, pipe 1-inch sections of batter onto a parchment-lined sheet pan, spacing them 2 inches apart as they spread.
  5. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes or until light golden brown around the edges. Let cool on the pan.
  6. While waiting for the cookies to cool, in a small saucepan over medium flame, scald cream.
  7. Pour hot cream over chocolate in a bowl, whisk to melt chocolate, add zest and blend well.
  8. Set aside to cool (the mixture will thicken as it cools).
  9. Spread a thin amount of the filling onto the flat side of a cookie while the filling is still soft and press the flat side of a second cookie on top.
  10. Repeat with the remainder of the cookies.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Summer Treats: Give-away Winner and Cuban Mojitos

National Parks Give-away Winner


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Congratulations, Sassy-Priscilla, your name was plucked out of my magic hat as the winner of my give-away. Please email your snail mail address; your package is gift-wrapped with a park systems map and ready to go. I hope Aidan enjoys it, too.

Bodeguita del Medio Cuban Mojito

Now the drawing is done, let’s relax. Just the aroma of a freshly-crushed mint leaf invokes a sense of cool comfort during summer’s sultry days and nights. I’ve been thinking about mojitos lately—Hemingway’s favorite drink. Invented at La Bodeguita del Medio in Havana, Cuba, mint is a prime ingredient.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

After searching online, I chose Taste of Cuba’s recipe to try last evening. Using a tall mojito glass and a wood muddler, I did my best to emulate Hemingway’s beloved drink but without the end result the hard-drinking author sought. I prefer awareness as opposed to oblivion.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Hemingway would be appalled about my adding a paper umbrella, but it looks festive. Ah, my mojito tastes deliciously refreshing.

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Bring the Ocean to Us

We are inveterate collectors of shells found on beaches or via dives my husband has made—always being careful not to collect anything living or harboring a little resident.


© Dub Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Since we’ve not ventured to a beach yet this year, my clever sister brought the ocean to us in the form of this beautiful glass panel she created depicting an underwater scene.


© Dub Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Connie used a few of our ocean treasures, adding a tiny baby sea turtle (not real) to represent a family outing we made to a sea turtle sanctuary a couple of years ago at Topsail Island, N.C.


© Dub Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Brilliant, isn’t she?

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Craft:along July 2009 Project: Summer Shimmer Scarf

My project for July’s Craft:along 2009 hosted by Africankelli and Finnyknits is done. I chose the Summer Shimmer Scarf knitting project using Jen’s Purl Bee pattern as featured on Craftzine.



The yarn used in Jen’s project is a beautiful silk/bamboo called Lorna’s Laces found
here ($43.50/skein). I substituted the much-less costly Naturally Caron.com’s Spa silky soft bamboo-blend yarn ($3.74/skein) in the color Ocean Spray found at Jo-Ann’s Fabrics.

From comments left on Finny’s blog, I realized care would be needed with the pattern although it is pretty straightforward. A quick test showed what the problem is—at least for me.

Instructions for the left leaning bias call for: Row 1: K1, * ssk, yo; rep from * to last stitch, end k1.

My count kept being off, so I switched the pattern instruction to this: Row 1: K1, *yo, ssk, rep from * to last stitch, end k1.

The minor revision worked and the scarf knitted up like a dream.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

My new scarf is 7-feet long. The zig-zag lace trellis pattern echoes fishnet which makes this summer scarf perfect for a mermaid.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

National Parks Celebration Give-Away

Yesterday I took my camera and water on a trek to Saguaro National Park, a little over 4 miles from my house.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

I love the way this Saguaro seems to be clapping its hands for the Ocotillo (the cactus with all the skinny arms). I’m not sure what the Ocotillo did that was so marvelous, but I’m pleased the Saguaro is so happy.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Century Plants grow so tall (up to 25 feet) I had to look way up to photograph this specimen’s blooms as evidenced by the clouds in the bottom of the picture.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Flowers on the Fishhook Barrel cactus will soon turn into a small yellow pineapple-shaped fruit.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

This Prickly Pear has already bloomed and its fruits are just about ripe enough to pick. The fruit looks almost like a crown on this particular Prickly Pear pad so I stopped, bowed suitably to its regality, and then acted like a paparazzo in taking a quick photo.

Isn’t it amazing that the desert, even in summer’s deadly heat, still has much to offer?


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Since our National Parks have given me many years of enjoyment, I want to celebrate these amazing resources by offering a give-away opportunity. On my way out of the park, I stopped in the Visitor’s Center and did a bit of shopping for you. What’s inside this bag?


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

  • A Park Ranger doll
  • Passport to Your National Parks book for collecting stamp cancellations on your visits
  • Kids’ Passport to Your National Parks Companion
  • A sticker representing Saguaro National Park
  • Box of Prickly Pear Cactus Candy as a little tasty treat from my neck of the world
The Rules

Simply post a comment on any post beginning today until Thursday at midnight. I'll announce the winning name Friday morning.

If your name is Anonymous, you won’t be entered in the drawing—fair warning on that as the postal service dislikes packages addressed to Anonymous.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Man’s Day/Night Out

What kind of a gift would a man really enjoy receiving? I figure time out for just doing guy things. So that’s what I gave my husband and a bunch of his buddies on Saturday—golf in the morning and poker that night in honor of my husband’s birthday which is actually today.

After stealthy covert ops for the last couple of weeks, I actually managed to surprise him with all this. Surreptitious planning is hard to do when the honoree lives with you.

Surprise Golf Outing

Getting my husband to the golf course without his knowing where we were going was fairly easy with a bit of convoluted subterfuge on my part. Hiding the golf clubs and goodie bags were more problematic, but I managed.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

The invitation sent out along with directions to the golf course attached on the back with a golf tee.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Each player’s goodie bag (seen in the photo held by my husband): a homemade blueberry muffin (I was baking at 5 a.m.), carton of Goldfish crackers, and the following....



© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

… a golf ball sleeve made out of cardstock using an idea from Vale Designs. I used her template to trace out the boxes on heavy-weight cardstock. Coolers with ice and bottled water were loaded on the carts (with the golf club’s permission)—survival tools for Arizona’s heat. After their game, Jim (one of my husband's golf buddies) kindly treated the group to lunch which bought me some more prep time for the poker event.

Surprise Poker Night


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

The front and back of the poker party invitation I made using cardstock and then laminating. The end result looks like a real playing card, just oversized (each is 4½-by-6½ inches).


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Cardstock sleeves held the invitation. On the outside is a poker chip label I made identifying the guest.

My oblivious husband played on his computer upstairs while I started “his” dinner: grilled rib-eye steaks, baked potatoes, giant Portobello mushrooms with onions, salad, and lobsters. The guys showed up promptly at 6—surprise! Let’s eat.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

I had the guys eat outside by the pool, so I could get the poker stuff ready. Until they came inside, my husband still didn’t know about the poker game. Here’s my recipe for the Portobello mushrooms, I just made it up on the fly, so to speak:

Portobello Mushrooms and Onions

Pre-heat oven to 350°

  • 6 whole Portobello mushrooms, rinsed and gently patted dry with a towel.
  • 1 large Vidalia onion, sliced thin
  • 6 tablespoons Worchestershire sauce
  • Olive oil
  • 1 minced garlic
In a sauté pan, add 2 tablespoons olive oil, the sliced onions, and the garlic. Sauté until the onions are translucent and just about to get golden brown in color.

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Brush the foil with olive oil and then do the same with each side of the mushrooms. Place the mushrooms gill-side up on the baking sheet.

Top each mushroom with the onion mixture. Bake at 350° for approximately 20 minutes.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

The cake I made while everyone was on the golf course in the morning came out of hiding after dinner before I escaped for the evening. It was meant to look like two stacked poker chips but merely looked strange. Ah well, it was delicious. The filling between the two layers is a mixture of blueberries (my husband’s favorite) and whipped cream.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Guys don’t care about things like take-home favor bags, but my final offering was left by the front door for each of them when leaving at the end of the night. I used glassine bags with a card thank-you label I made, and sealed with a paper poker chip personalized with each player’s name.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Inside is a laminated cheat sheet made using a free printable poker hand rankings from here and a dice poker game bought at the game store at Park Mall.

It’s amazing that all the guys involved, their wives, and I managed to keep all the preparations and arrangements secret from my husband. My husband was thrilled with his day and that’s what it’s all about.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Blessings Friday: Park Patty

We’ve all seen gnomes, stuffed rabbits, Flat Stanley, and other assorted interesting characters in photos documenting their adventures all over the world.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved. Park Patty


I have Park Patty, a National Parks Ranger doll purchased last year at one of the national parks. Park Patty is not really her official name; she was named by my husband. She visits every national park we explore and poses for photos in front of park entrance signs and inside visitor centers where we get our National Parks Passport booklet stamped.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved. Park Patty at the Grand Canyon

Here she’s being held by two rangers at the Grand Canyon National Park. The dolls are not available in every park’s gift shop and I was surprised by the enthusiastic interest of rangers at the Grand Canyon and some other large parks. They all wanted to hold her, even the men, and examine her little ranger badge and binoculars. It’s a lot of fun.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved. Park Patty at Zion


Here she is at Zion National Park, resting after an exhaustive hike. There are more pictures of this tiny traveling ranger, but I won’t bore you with them all. I may, however, have to start a photo album just for Park Patty’s adventures.


Thursday, July 16, 2009

Summer Walking Program

All the cooking, partying, and vacationing going on this summer are not helping me meet my health goal set at the beginning of the year. It’s my own fault. More active movement is needed in my life, plain and simple.

Since I’m not young and am definitely out of any semblance of shape, walking is a good activity with which to start. Following advice from Active.com, I’m trying their beginner Summer Walking Program.

Summer is deadly here in Tucson, so I’ll have to go out very early in the morning. That’s a good idea anyway as there’s something motivating about a fresh new day ahead.





While picking up a prescription at Albertson’s recently, I saw a walking program card on their counter as a giveaway which contains a number of helpful tips. Click on each picture to enlarge and print if you’d like to use their program.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved (from September 2007 post)

I can track my progress with this fitness calendar printed from HP Creative
Studio.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Here’s another great tool recently featured on One Pretty Thing, a free printable Healthy Living Goals List created by Baca Creative.

I’ve got to figure out how to keep this stuff on my computer to avoid actually handling paper considering my allergy issue. Some things can’t be avoided, I guess.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

An active person is supposed to be able to walk 10,000 steps per day. Doesn’t that sound daunting? Sitting here writing about it isn’t going to get me anywhere, so I’m clipping on my little pedometer and heading out the door.

Resources

  • Healthy Living Goals List from Baca Creative
  • HP Creative Studio printable fitness calendar
  • Summer Walking Program from Active.com
  • “Your Anti-Aging Checklist” from Oprah
  • Zen Habits blog offers health tips on Fridays

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Decluttering Books

One reason we decided I needed an electronic book reader is because my doctor discovered I’m allergic to molds found in paper and books. It’s such a ridiculous and weird allergy with which to suffer. However, it is what it is and we’re taking steps to ease my chronic discomfort.


Source: Decalgirl

See this cute Kindle 2 skin? Thanks to Evylynn's suggestion to get one for additional protection, I ordered this style called Forest from Decalgirl.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved. Book Friends

I cannot give up all paper, there’s toilet paper, our files, daily mail, and so on. However, my beloved library has to go. I’ve gathered ideas to consider for my impending big book cleanse:

  • Donate to the local library for their fund raisers
  • Donate to a school
  • Give to friends
  • Host a garage sale
  • Sell online at such places as at Amazon.com
  • Donate to nursing homes/hospital libraries
  • Sell to a local used-book store
  • Register the books at BookCrossing.com and leave them in public places for other people (an activity I’ve been doing for years as it’s fun)

© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved. Book Friends

The craft, sewing, and knitting books are a whole different thing. More pondering is required on the disposal of this collection, maybe scan targeted projects for archiving on my external hard drive and then purging the actual book.

Alas, goodbye dear book friends.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Making Camera Straps

My camera gets a lot of usage, not only for blogging purposes but also for camera club challenges and just plain fun. Over the weekend I decided it’s time for a new camera strap.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved. 2007 Camera Strap

I’ve been using a strap bought on Etsy in 2007. Two new Nikons later, I’ve still been using this strap. It was starting to look tired and quite well-worn.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved. Old OpTech Camera Strap

This old OpTech strap has been stored in our closet for a few years. My husband has one, too. We like them because they have great stretchy, cushiony qualities easing neck strain. I sacrificed this comfort when deciding to use the pretty strap with the Amy Butler fabric in the first photo. My neck now requires I make a better choice, so I retrieved my old OpTech for a bit of revitalization.


© Dub Scroggin, All Rights Reserved. June's Revitalized OpTech Camera Strap

While there are numerous tutorials for making camera straps (see Resources), I simply measured the length and width of the OpTech strap, allowed for a ¼-inch seam, the stretch factor, and turning under the ends. I used leftover fabric to cut the resulting measurements. Next came sewing a seam, turning the resultant tube right-side out, and pressing it so the seam runs down the middle of one side. Just like magic, there I was with a new strap cover which slid over the OpTech strap. The ends are tucked into the clip thingies on each side. It can be removed for washing, if necessary. If I get tired of the fabric, a new strap can easily be made.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved. Dub's Revitalized OpTech Camera Strap

After seeing my new strap, my husband asked for one. I led him to the Sacred Stash Mountain and let him pick out fabric. He chose a blue batik leaf print and I made his new strap. It was kind of fun, the two of us taking pictures of each other’s camera.


Resources

The following blogs offer tutorials for making camera straps:

  • Camera Strap Cover: Design Sponge
  • Camera Strap Redo: Craft Leftovers
  • Camera Strap Slipcover: Made by Petchy
  • How to Make a Camera Strap: ikat bag
  • How to Make a Crafty Camera Strap: Curbly

Monday, July 13, 2009

How to Find Free e-Books

I promised a few folks I would share free book resources discovered recently for the Kindle. While it’s easy to find e-books for sale, I’m seeking free books as much as possible to mitigate the expense of the Kindle 2.

After searching Amazon.com, the public library (Pima County, AZ) was the next source checked. I spoke with the librarian about the availability of e-books the library system. He said they do offer free book downloads but not in Kindle format—right now, but the format is coming. Click
here for an article about libraries loaning out Kindles—maybe there’s a library near you offering a chance to check out a Kindle for free.

Authors are discovering the marketing power inherent in e-books. Some offer free copies of their new book, especially if it’s the first in a series. The point is to hook you on their first book and hopefully you’ll buy the next and so on. But you have to be quick as these are usually limited time offers. For example, Paranoia by Joseph Finder is free until Sept. 18.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved. Kindle 2


Available for free is a plethora of classics, urban fantasy, science fiction, and romance novels. As for the latter, I just cannot read a book citing “throbbing members and pulsating orbs” with any degree of seriousness. However,
Harlequin is celebrating their 60th year by offering free PDF versions of a few romances until October, such as Price of Passion by Susan Napier.

Book offers are available in a number of different e-reader formats, such as the Mobipocket/Kindle, Sony Reader, Iliad, and PDF. You select which download version you prefer. For the Kindle 2, I either download via Amazon.com's magical Whispernet or directly to a “Kindle” folder created on my laptop. For the latter, I simply plug in my Kindle’s USB and copy the book over to my Kindle, easy.


Here are just a very few of the many free e-books available:


  • Beautiful Red by M. Darusha Wehm (science fiction)
  • Gone by Bryan W. Alaspa (horror)
  • My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent (young adult fantasy)
  • Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (classic)
  • The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (classic)
  • Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (classic)
More free books will emerge as time goes on, books enter the public domain, and electronic readers become more prevalent. Of course, e-sales will increase as well.

Resources

The following are some free e-book resources; some are easier to navigate than others:

  • Amazon.com's Kindle Store
  • Blog Kindle also tracks Kindle news and information about other e-book readers
  • Feedbooks
  • Free Kindle Books (classics)
  • Kindle Review
  • Manybooks.net
  • An extension of Manybooks, this link provides downloads directly to your Kindle (choose Mobipocket format)
  • MobileRead is a forum for eReaders
  • Munsey's for mobile browsing via Whispernet (choose Mobipocket format)
  • Project Gutenberg
  • World eBook Fair (free membership until August 4)

Friday, July 10, 2009

Blessings Friday: The Simple Gift

We’re in the midst of a rather mild monsoon season in Tucson. While the rain brings much-needed water to our desert environment, other blessings also ensue.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved. Double Rainbow

The rumble of thunder very late in the day yesterday drew us outside to see what the weather was promising. Alas, no rain at our house, but the simple gift of a double rainbow arched across the sky.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Kindle 2 Bag Sewing Tutorial

My husband bought the new Kindle: Amazon's 6" Wireless Reading Device (Latest Generation) as one of my anniversary gifts. A notice from Amazon.com today tells me it’s on sale about $60 cheaper than what my husband paid for it. Anyway, I read so voraciously, taking stacks of books on trips via plane or cruise ship is a problem. Inevitably I run out, but the Kindle will solve that.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved: Kindle 2 Bag

Naturally, I felt it incumbent upon me to make a padded bag for my new Kindle 2 so I can drop it in my purse and not worry about the screen getting scratched.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved: Kindle 2 Bag Inside

Fabrics used were leftover from my laptop sleeve project.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved: Kindle 2 Bag Pocket

The bag has an exterior pocket on the back to hold the charging cord and earphones. It’s interfaced and fully lined, no seams show whatsoever. I’m kind of tickled about working out that last detail.

Kindle 2 Case Sewing Tutorial

Click here for a printer-friendly PDF version.

Supplies

  • ¼ yard each of main (exterior) fabric, fusible fleece interfacing, lining (I used flannel)
  • Velcro: ¾-inch wide, cut into length of 4½ inches
  • Pins
  • Thread to match
  • Scissors
Fabric Cutting

NOTE: in cutting your fabrics, the top of your case is 6 ½-inches wide. Measure and cut your main (exterior) fabric carefully for both the front and back if there’s a design element you want to feature; see following diagrams:



Cut all three fabrics as follows (you should have three pieces for each section):



  • Front: cut 1 piece 9¼-inches by 6½-inches each from: main, interfacing, and lining fabric. Tip: place a piece of masking tape or pin a note identifying the top of your case so you don’t get confused later.
  • Back: cut 1 piece 11½-inches by 6½-inches each from main (exterior), interfacing, and lining fabric.
  • Pocket: cut 1 piece 5-inches by 6½-inches each from main (exterior), interfacing, and lining fabric. The top of this piece will be one side of the 6½-inch width.
Directions

Step 1

Iron the fusible fleece interfacing to the wrong side of each of the lining pieces for the back and pocket, and the wrong side of the main (exterior) front fabric piece.

Step 2

Take the long back lining fabric piece, place it on your work table with the right-side facing up and the interfacing wrong-side down. Center and pin the male (rough) side of your Velcro ½-inch from one 6 ½-inch-wide edge on the right-side of the lining panel. Zig-zag around all four sides of the Velcro. Set aside for now.



Step 3

With the wrong side of the long back main fabric facing up, fold over the top 2 inches toward and press. You should now have 2 inches of the right-side of the fabric facing you and the rest is the fabric’s wrong-side. This end will serve as part of your fold-over flap and the pressed line will mark a sewing start/stop point for the next step. Open up the folded flap for the next step.



Step 4

Place the back lining piece right-side up on your work table (the wrong-side of the Velcro should be at your top). Layer the back main fabric section wrong-side up on top of the lining piece (the pocket section should be at the bottom). Pin, matching the top and two sides. Starting on one side at the point where you pressed the fold-over seam, stitch a ¼-inch seam from the point where you pressed the fold-over seam, around the top of the bag (the Velcro end), and up the other side, stopping at the pressed fold-over seam marking. Clip into the fabric at the juncture of the pressed seam marker and the finished seam. Set aside for now.




Step 5

Position the pocket lining piece right-side up (interfacing side wrong-side down) on your work table. Place the pocket main fabric wrong-side up on top of the lining piece. Pin and sew a ¼-inch seam along one long side (6 ½-inches). Flip lining fabric over the main fabric piece and press. Top-stitch along the seamed top edge of the pocket (optional).



Step 6

With the long back main piece made in Step 4 placed right-side up on your work table, lay the finished pocket piece made in Step 5 with the main fabric facing right-side up on one bottom end of your back lining section. Baste close to edge around one side, across the bottom, and up the other side, leaving the top-stitched top piece of the pocket open. Your pocket will now look like the following:



Step 7

Take the short front main fabric piece, place it on your work table right-side facing up and interfacing wrong-side down. Center and pin the female (soft) side of your Velcro 1½-inches from one 6 ½-inch-wide edge on the right-side of top of the lining panel. Zig-zag around all four sides of the Velcro.



Step 8

Layer the short front sections in the following way: front main fabric piece right-side up with the interface side down, and then layer the front lining piece wrong-side up. Pin the top in place and stitch a ¼-inch seam along the top only. Flip the lining over, press, and top-stitch close to the folded edge (top-stitching is optional). Open up the main fabric and lining and iron open. Set aside for now.

Step 9

Now take your finished long section and lay it right-side up with the lining to one side and the extra flap section folded towards the lining fabric.



On top of this panel, place the short section so that the two lining panels match. Pin the lining into place and sew a ¼-inch seam from the notch on one side, down the side, around the bottom of the bag, and up the other side, stopping at the second notch. Be sure to back-stitch at both ends and also watch out not to catch the flap fold-over piece in your stitching.



Step 10

Now move to the opposite end and work on the lining by matching up the ends and side, moving the fold-over flap piece toward the main fabric section. Pin the lining edges into place. Starting at the notch made earlier, sew a ¼-inch seam from down the side of the lining section, stopping at the end and back-stitching. Do not sew the short end of the lining as that is what you’ll use to turn the bag right-side out. Turn the bag around a bit and sew up the other side of the lining, stopping at the notch and back-stitching at each end. Be careful not to catch the flap fold-over piece in your stitching.

Step 11

Turn bag inside out through the opening on the short end of the lining and also push out the flap area. If there are any seams you missed near the flap fold-over, you can quickly slip-stitch those small areas.

Step 12

To close the end of the lining section, turn under ¼-inch, press, and slip-stitch close to the edge. Push lining into bag and press. You’re done.

Enjoy and read lots of books!

Please do not use my tutorial to make items for commercial sale.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Magical Summer Days

I’m so relaxed and mellow I’m having a hard time getting kick-started into action. Today I’m working on a sewing project/tutorial I thought about on vacation. Hopefully I can finish and post about it tomorrow—although I’m not making a promise as I’m feeling totally blissed-out right now which underscores the whole point about vacations.

In the meantime, here are more photographs I took on our trip.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved. Dandelion Closeup

We were driving through Utah and saw humongous dandelions on the side of the road. A screeching halt ensued and I jumped out to get a photo. I’m working on improving my macro-photography skills which are nonexistent and thought this would be a good subject. No macro lens or extensions tubes were used, simply my basic camera set-up.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved. Field of Flowers

Exactly across the highway from the dandelions was this field of flowers with a house situated in the back. I love the serenity invoked by the whole scene and tried to capture the feeling with my camera.

Summer is my absolute favorite time of year; some of the many things I love about it include:


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved. Watermelon
  • The sweet juiciness of a freshly-picked watermelon warm from the sun.
  • The sound of a lawn mower in action along with its accompanying fragrance of fresh-mown grass.
  • The drone of an airplane flying overhead taking passengers to some adventure or another.
  • Laughing children with their constant refrain of “Marco” … “Polo” as they splash happily about in a pool.
  • Water lapping at the ocean’s edge (I so miss this sound)
  • The deliciousness of honeysuckles offering up their perfume.
  • The buzz of fat lazy bees tasting one flower after another.
  • Reading a book on a chaise lounge or hammock outside and falling asleep.
  • The warmth of the sun on my face.
  • Ensconcing myself on a blanket in the grass at night to watch for shooting stars.
  • The brilliance of lightning during a monsoon storm.
  • The clang of halyards hitting masts on boats at the docks (another sound I miss).
What summer magic enthralls you?

Monday, July 6, 2009

Summer Road Trip Overview

We’re back from our summer road trip, the laundry is done, and the stack of mail has been whittled down. We’ve given a first pass through our more than 4,000 photos, but I’ll only share a few.

Grand Canyon



© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved: Grand Canyon

This is actually our fourth trip to the Grand Canyon. It impresses us each and every visit. We stayed at Maswik Lodge in a tiny cabin on the rim.

Glen Canyon Dam/Lake Powell


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved: Glen Canyon Dam

The Glen Canyon Dam and its reservoir Lake Powell (behind the dam) are part of the Colorado River Storage Project for the Upper Colorado Basin.

Antelope Canyon


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved: Antelope Canyon Light Beam

We took a pre-arranged photography tour led by a Navajo guide through Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona. It is a Navajo Tribal Park. The famous light beams inside this slot canyon occur mid-day during April to September.

Bryce Canyon


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved: Bryce Amphitheater Vista Point

This is just one part of the Bryce Amphitheater view; the following Paiute Indian legend explains the rock formations here:

Before there were any Indians, the Legend People, To-when-an-ung-wa, lived in that place. There were many of them. They were of many kinds—birds, animals, lizards, and such things—but they looked like people…For some reason, the Legend People in that place were bad. Because they were bad, Coyote turned them all into rocks. You can see them in that place now; all turned into rocks; some standing in rows, some sitting down, some holding on to others. You can see their faces, with paint on them just as they were before they became rocks…”

Red Rock Canyon


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved: Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon is in Utah's Dixie National Forest. There are also three Red Rock Canyons in Nevada, one being very near Las Vegas.

Zion National Park


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved: Majestic Zion

Originally named Mukuntuweap National Monument by President William Taft in 1909, the name was later changed to Zion—an ancient Hebrew word meaning a place of refuge or sanctuary. This park truly fits its name.

Valley of Fire State Park


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved: The Arch at Valley of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire is Nevada's oldest state park and an unplanned detour we took on our drive to Las Vegas from Zion. The eroded sandstone formations and sand dunes are more than 150 million years old. In sunlight, the valley does look like it is on fire due to the rich red color of the rocks.

Las Vegas


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved: View of Las Vegas from Paris’ Eiffel Tower

Las Vegas at night as viewed from the observation tower of the Eiffel Tower where we stayed at the Paris Casino Hotel for a couple of nights. You can go up to the observation deck day or at night—we opted for the latter.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved: Tubing the Lazy River

Here’s my sister Connie floating around Mandalay Bay Beach’s Lazy River which moves at 2½ miles per hour as it circumnavigates the beach/pool areas and through waterfalls. Connie and her husband met us in Las Vegas for this leg of our trip, arranging a Cabana Day experience for us on the Lazy River as well as a massage in our cabana as our anniversary gift. Total bliss!

Hoover Dam/Lake Mead


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved: Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam straddles the Nevada/Arizona border. Dub and I looked for the famous line painted across the road marking the border of Arizona/Nevada as seen in the movies, but it’s no longer there. We suspect it proved too much of a photo opportunity for visitors, thus impacting traffic flow.

London Bridge


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved: London Bridge

London Bridge in Lake Havasu, AZ is #10 on the Travel Channel’s World’s Top 10 Bridges list. Built in the 1820s for walking and traveling by horse and buggy over the River Thames, the bridge became too small to accommodate London’s traffic so the city put it up for auction. It was bought for $2.5 million in 1968 by Robert McCulloch, founder of Lake Havasu City. The bridge took three years to make its way, piece by piece, to Arizona.

Lake Havasu City


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved: Sunset at Lake Havasu

Lake Havasu offers the requisite summer experiences: camping, swimming, boating, jet skis, dinner/casino cruises (it’s very near the California border), charters, and other assorted water adventures. We ate lunch at Barley’s Brothers Grill and Brewery, a micro-brewery at one end of London Bridge. The afternoon was spent swimming and relaxing, and then we wandered around taking sunset photos.

Tucson’s Fourth of July Fireworks


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved: Tucson Fireworks

We planned our road trip to end July 3 as July 4 is our wedding anniversary and we wanted to celebrate it in Tucson for the first time (having always been off on some travel adventure elsewhere in previous years). We packed a picnic supper and ventured forth to watch the fireworks. My fireworks photos came out looking like abstract flowers which I think is fun.

Other Places Visited

  • Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Page, AZ and Big Water, UT
  • Montezuma Castle National Monument, Camp Verde, AZ
  • Rainbow Bridge National Monument, Page, AZ
  • Navajo Bridge, Lee’s Ferry, AZ
  • Marble Canyon, AZ
  • Grand Canyon, North Rim
  • Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Marble Canyon, AZ and Big Water, UT
  • Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Kanab and Big Water, UT
  • Paria Canyon, UT
  • Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Boulder City, NV
If you’re still reading this vacation post, thank you so much for your patience.