50 Projects: 52 Weeks (21. Sunset at Devil's Lake: A Two-Piece Wedding Landscape)

For the beautiful bride and groom. Devil's Lake State Park in Baraboo, WI. I've been working on perfecting reflections and water. It's a challenge to paint, but I love the way this one turned out. 

Congratulations, Mike and Jen!

Big Baby

This is the newest addition to our micro-sized apartment: Teal'C [pronounced Tealk]. He's mostly Siberian Husky with maybe about 10% Malamute. Teal'C has a very stubborn, very lovable personality. The first 48 hours we had him (pre-neuter); he didn't sleep, nap, or blink. He would just bark and talk and pace and be generally obnoxious. He went after the cat in the middle of the night (subsequently, cat on my face in the middle of the night...what a sight to behold!). Teal'C is loyal and pretty goofy. He isn't aggressive and he's learning a little bit each day. Plus. We figured out how to break him. He gets AT LEAST two 4-mile runs (on a bicycle, mind you) a day. It completely obliterates his energy level and he's less prone to terrorizing Frank, the cat.

Now Steve doesn't have to sleep on the couch anymore. Baby steps. And he's a big baby.

Thinking Outside the Box: All Terrain Cabin and Portable Homes

I am a bit weary always having to think about rent, bills, pets, space, cleaning, moving, etc...I am beginning to think that, if I crunch the numbers, living out of a pre-fabricated home or shipping container would actually SAVE us money in the end. I don't want clutter anymore. I am beginning to think about the prospects of living simply and [what if] Steve and I move around a lot. [What if] we work internationally but want a "home" to come back to. [What if] it could be shipped internationally. [What if] we could make it entirely modular and it would be possible to put it on a train from Colorado and move it back to Wisconsin, just in-case. 

I am also weary of thinking about plans for the future. When it comes down to it; I want to be a sustainable designer and visionary. I want to prove that I can think outside of the box, like this company did (purely conceptual, but it's GORGEOUS).

It's called the All-Terrain Cabin (by BARK):

It's a 20' ISO Container Frame.

Imagine the freedom and flexibility of it.

I am going to consider this as an economic and timeless investment piece. More info on how to build your own shipping container home can be found here. I've also compiled this list:

Cargotecture 

FabPreFab Comprehensive List of Projects

Contained Mobility a BA Arch Project

More Amazing Homes

And one of my faves: the Port-a-Bach

Up and Running

Tada! The first round of my photographs are up and running in my Etsy store: Soul Journer Studio.

I'm nervous and excited. I'm reluctant and exhilarated. I'm hesitant because I am my own worst critic. I am excited because this may open up windows, maybe even doors. The next round of items (I hope) will be greeting cards and paintings I've completed. 

Support starving artists. Please.


P.S. For any of you with a keen eye, YES, I did organize my Google Chrome Bookmark Icons by color. I am that OCD about it. . .

Rawah Wilderness - A Challenge

The basics stay the same but the colors change. And you never know what to expect. I love the Rocky Mountains.

We took a two-day, 20-mile hike through the Rawah Wilderness for Steve's 25th Birthday this past weekend. It was moderately difficult, and if it wasn't for him, I may not have had the courage to press on. Press on. He challenged me. We made it over Grassy Pass (11,250 feet!) and onward to camp at Lower Sandbar Lake.

Blue skies. Not a soul in sight. Quiet moments. Reflection. Hope.

Happy Birthday, honey - I love you!

50 Projects: 52 Weeks (20. Repurposed File Hanger Plant Stand)

Another one in the books for repurposed. My friend Elizabeth pointed out that the metal frame is actually a file-hanger (I had no idea). $1 at ReStore. The glass? Free from Freecycle. 4 silicone feet for the glass? About another $1. 

$2 for a great plant stand or garden table. I have a second one outside which would look GREAT with a chaise lounge and an umbrella drink and a good drink. Just like the entryway table, in small spaces, glass helps keep the space looking open and uncluttered. A heavy table would look out of place in such a small apartment. And the glass draws the eye outside to enjoy the fantastic Colorado weather.

Another tip? Buy tropical starter plants. $2.99 for 2.5" pots (the ones in the photo were replanted). It saves a lot of money and they are already growing strong. Happy planting!

Laundry Day

Laundry Day, a photo by Morgan.Elizabeth.Fay on Flickr.

Another beautiful Summer day means fresh laundry and, for whatever reason, these colors deserved a photo.

Thursday Night Lights: Summer is Beautiful

Backyard Movies, a photo by Morgan.Elizabeth.Fay on Flickr.

Thursday nights for our neighbor, Michelle, means outdoor movie night. What better way to spend a warm summer evening than in a pile of pillows, a cozy blanket, White Caucasians (it's a drink taken from the movie) and new friends. It's a weekly event - next weeks' movie? Robin Hood: Men in Tights. :) You should join us. . .

Favorite Things: In the Kitchen

Since moving to Colorado, Steve and I have really come to learn how to part with things we don't need. We moved across three states in an 8 x 10 x 4 ft high trailer and a poor little Toyota Corolla packed with gear. We have found little "systems" that work for us, that make our lives simpler, easier, and more efficient. The kitchen, admittedly, is my domain. My cooking skills have exploded tenfold since marrying a strong and hungry man!

Here are just a few of my favorite things in the kitchen - may it inspire you to culinary creations! 

The Teapot 

This was purchased at Happy Lucky's Teahouse in Old Town Fort Collins, CO. We received a gift card from our friends Jon and Elizabeth - what better way to remember our sweet little time with them (as they lived with us for about two weeks) - it was a crazy-fun two weeks. We all love tea and this little pot stood out amongst all the rest. It's a teapot and the steeping basket is the little teapot on top. It's fired clay so it ages and is only recommended for oolongs, whites, and greens. Perfect!

The Misto - Natural Olive Oil Mister 

We realized that because we make most things from scratch, we were spending a lot of money on butter that ended up getting smothered all over a pan (particularly since almost all my pans are my mother's or grandmother's, so they aren't exactly smooth and shiny anymore!). We "wasted" a ton on just buttering pans. $9.95 friends at Bed Bath and Beyond. My friend, Jen, had one of these and I saw it being put to use. We've cut down on the amount of butter and the Misto is smooth and sleek with easy clean-up. A definite (and newest!) staple en mi cocina.

Silly S&P Shakers: Meet Poncho and Marguerite

Every kitchen has a personality. I bought these Salt and Pepper shakers when I was about 18 years old visiting my Aunt Marlene in the little town of Two Rivers - I'm sorry - T'wivers, as the locals call it. 50 cents. It was the best little investment I could've made. These two have been everywhere and have their own little personalities; I cannot imagine what I'll do when (if) I have to part with these two. I'm not entirely sure how they got their names either. But Poncho looks as though he's been pricked (he usually has a pin in his head to keep him from clogging!) and Marguerite, because of the amount of moving I've done, has developed some, erm..."facial hair" scuffs. My bad. Lo siento!

The Rice Cooker

I never thought I'd want one of these or want to highlight all of my "gadgetry"...but the more I examine my cupboards, the more I realize that I'm in the minority. We don't own a microwave, I didn't register for a Kitchen Aid mixer, I don't have a cabinet devoted to As Seen on TV widgets and doo-dads. This rice cooker, which I cannot believe is made by the same guys that make your chain saw, was a gift from my mom years ago. It's stuck around and will continue to travel with us. Yes, I know how to make rice in a kettle, but (as you'll find out below) we don't own a lot of pots and pans. It's easy cleanup and the rice always comes out perfect. C'est magnifique!

The Cast Iron Skillet

If I had to pick just ONE thing that every kitchen should have - I would say a good cast iron skillet. This guy is big and was a wedding gift. We have since replaced our two Caphalon skillets with just this one skillet. It's unbeatable and completely natural. My recommendation - make sure you take the time to oil the pan to keep it in tip-top shape and don't be afraid to season it with all sorts of yummy things! They even make lid accessories (which is something we'd like in the future) and it can be put safely in the oven to make a delicious homemade cornbread. Yum.

Beauty in Destruction

Well - As my previous post hinted at, we had a cold spell in Fort Collins last week and it wasn't without its own trouble.

Bright and sunny day. A bit chilly. Steve and I went to our car and he opened the drivers' side door, as normal, and then...the sound of glass shattering into a million pieces. The beautiful aqua-colored tempered glass was everywhere. It is a mystery to us as to why it happened - we blame the freeze-thaw cycles that we've been getting. I guess glass-shattering is pretty common in Colorado. Hmph. It looks so beautiful, glistening in the sun, but it was NOT something we wanted to pay for, that's for sure. Lesson learned - Auto Glass deductible of $50 or $100 separate from the main deductible. Duly noted!