This is going to be fun. Unless I fail.

Vintage pattern from Serendipity Vintage. Fabric from Bolt. Not sure where the completely unrealistic assessment of my skill level came from. Wish me luck.

Mad men, lazy women. Err... woman.

I realize this blog has taken a weird turn. Instead of sharing little anecdotes about my attempts to conquer all domestic realms, I've been recycling content featured elsewhere. This is because most of my projects have been put on hold, due to general summer mayhem involving visitors, weddings, trips, and other assorted whiny excuses that I basically use to cover up the fact I can't stop watching Mad Men. But there are some good things in the works, I promise. Things I can't wait to tell you about. After I get through Season 2 and find out why Don Draper is so f-ed up.

So, please be distracted by this little opinion piece about city cycling that I wrote for Volume One, a really great alternative biweekly that I used to work for in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. About six years ago, when it was just a wee little b&w zine that a couple of guys produced on the side, in a tiny office the size of a closet, where we had to move the ethernet cord from one computer to the next because there was only one cord -- I was the outfit's first "intern." Now it's a full fledged, sharp-looking tabloid with an editorial and sales staff with a kickass downtown headquarters. I feel lucky to have been on the ground floor of this publication that has done remarkable things for the creative scene and sense of community in that city.

Aaaaand now it's time for more Mad Men. At the rate I'm burning through these DVDs I'll be back here trying to fill an immense void before you know it. Or getting cable to continue my addiction. See you... soon. Soon-ish.

Business + Pleasure

Sometimes work = fun.

A couple of weeks ago I got to interview Karen Solomon, who wrote Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It - a collection of crafty DIY kitchen projects that I've been evangelizing on behalf of for months.

She's a hoot. You can read the exchange here.

This completely makes up for that summer I spent at a cheese factory, watching a robotic arm put bags of shredded cheddar into boxes. (Although even that position had its perks: reject cheese.)

Burnt Out

I went camping this past weekend, at a nice little spot between Hood River and the north side of Mount Hood in the Cascades. I had my heart set on doing the Cooper Spur hike, a solid trek at 8000 foot elevation, but the road to the trailhead was closed -- and this is why. Forest fires wrecked havoc on the area last fall. So instead we did a 7 mile trip up to Tilly Jane shelter, and I hate to say it, but the destruction was stunning. The trail was covered in inches of ash, like walking in sand, and there were gnarled, scorched trees as far as you could see. But, if you looked close enough, you'd see signs of the green returning. I'd love to do it again next year and gauge the regeneration.

Reasons why the Pacific NW is pretty much amazing - Exhibit Q: Swimmin' Hole.

I don't know why it took me so long to go to this place, but on Saturday I threw myself in this mystical spot called Dougan Falls in the Washougal River in near Camas, Washington.

About half an hour's drive from Portland, a 30 mile stretch of road follows the water, allowing frolickers to pull off just about anywhere and jump in, with varying depths and currents. Some spots are perfect for a lazy tube ride, others, like the one we went to, are prime for amateur cliff jumping. Here the water was crystal clear and cold, but not go-into-shock cold, and deep enough in spots that you couldn't touch the bottom.

And the best part? I got myself some water socks. Amphibian feet technology has come a long way since 1992. I was shimmying up those wet boulders like it was nobody's business.