March is upon us, bringing a mix of rain and warmer weather. It’s starting to get light out earlier, and dusk is a bit farther off each day. It’s also the month where we celebrate everything Irish, and so I wanted a theme for my desktop that was green and lush, wet and cool, warm and comforting. Continue reading
Free Windows Theme | February
February is an interesting month, because it’s very short and it means we’re getting closer to spring. It’s also a month where we can indulge freely in flowers, chocolate, coffee, tea, champagne and other joys. Continue reading
Free Windows Theme | January
I’ve been thinking a lot about the month of January, especially as experienced in the Pacific Northwest. Our winters are a bit different than the snowy winters I remember from growing up in New York. We have a lot of rain, and cloudy, foggy days. It’s a bit chill, but it does vary. Continue reading
Free Windows Theme | December
For this month’s desktop theme challenge, I wanted to examine a Pacific Northwest December, which touches on some holiday themes, but primarily focuses on the natural weather and landscape settings of this area. Of course, I had to include an owl, as they are my favorite birds, and I think you’ll agree that this guy is really special. Continue reading
Free Windows Theme | Autumn Leaves
From time to time, I like to update the themes on my Windows desktop computer. The Windows Store offers a variety of free themepacks, but most of the time they are watermarked and are not necessarily relevant to my day-in, day-out experience. If Windows is a viewpoint out of a window, then I should be able to see on my desktop the sorts of things I could see out of my actual window. At least, that’s how I’m looking at it. Continue reading
Chanterelle & Green Bean Casserole
This is a popular Pacific NW version of the traditional Thanksgiving side dish, Green Bean Casserole. Stephanie Kimmel, chef/owner of Marché restaurant in Eugene, turned Thanksgiving’s well-worn green bean casserole into a refined dish. The colorful fresh green beans and chanterelles baked in a homemade white sauce are a serious improvement over the 1950s three-can combo. For toppers, the golden shallot and bread crumb crust out-crunches canned french-fried onions any day. To make things easy on the big day, prepare the beans and sauce ahead. Continue reading
Kombucha with AnHui Qimen Keemun Black Tea
Batch #6
Started 10/29/2016 @ 3:30 p.m.
- 24 gm AnHui Qimen Keemun Black Tea
- 1.75 liters boiling water
Kombucha with East Frisian Tea
Kombucha with Golden Sail Puerh Tea
Batch #4
Started 10/16/2016 @ 3:00 p.m.
- 24 gm Golden Sail Puerh Tea
- 1.75 liters boiling water
Kombucha with Dorchester English Breakfast Tea
Batch #3
Started 10/9/2016 @ 1:10 p.m.
- 24 gm Harney & Sons Dorchester English Breakfast tea
- 1.75 liters boiling water