Drop Spinning Through Brazil - Rio de Janeiro

Sunday, May 4, 2025

Drop Spinning Through Brazil Drop Spinning Through Brazil

After the work conference in Recife I met up with a friend in Rio de Janeiro. We saw the whole sit, plus went on a boat tour. Not the most time for drop-spinning this Three Waters Farms' BFL-silk roving, but still more time on airplanes! Brazil is a large country.

Drop Spinning Through Brazil Drop Spinning Through Brazil

Drop Spinning Through Brazil - Recife

Sunday, April 27, 2025

Drop Spinning Through Brazil Drop Spinning Through Brazil

'Turns out it takes a VERY long time to get to Brazil from the East Coast USA So I brought my new PrintUrThings 3D-printed drop spindle and some Three Waters Farms' BFL-Silk roving, and got going! The work conference was in Recife at a beachfront locale which was just luuuurvely.

Drop Spinning Through Brazil Drop Spinning Through Brazil

Recipe: Lemon Lavender Pound Cake

Sunday, April 20, 2025

Lemon Lavender Pound Cake

I've made this lemon lavender pound cake from Desserts for Breakfast for many, many years. It's a lovely, surprising little treat for when you want to make something a little special. So, I'm gonna stash the recipe here!

Lemon Lavender Pound Cake

Make two cakes!

Ingredients

  • 1/3 c milk
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • 3 c flour
  • 1 1/2 c sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 Tbsp grated lemon zest
  • 1 2/3 c butter, softened (I ALWAYS over melt this, and it's _okay_)
  • 1/3 cup dried lavender flowers
For the glaze (do not skip!)
  • 1/2 c powdered sugar
  • juice of 1 lemon (~3 Tbsp)
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • Optional: sliced almonds

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C). Grease and flour two loaf pans.
  2. In a bowl, combine milk, eggs, lemon juice, and vanilla. Whisk until combined.
  3. In the bowl of a mixer, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest. Mix to combine.
  4. Add the butter to the flour mixture. Cream for 2-3 minutes until fluffy.
  5. Gradually add the milk mixture in 2-3 parts, mixing for about 30 seconds to 1 minute before each addition.
  6. Mix in lavender flowers until evenly distributed through the batter. Be careful not to overmix.
  7. Divide the batter into the two loaf pans.
  8. Bake for ~30-35 minutes. When the tops are about to crack, score the tops in one line with a sharp, oiled knife to create an even crack. Then, place an oiled piece of foil on top of the cakes, oil side down. Continue to bake for 25-30 minutes (for a total baking time of ~55-60 minutes).
  9. The cakes are done when a toothpick removed from the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes on a rack before turning the cakes out. Let cool completely.
For the glaze (do not skip!)
  1. Mix together powdered sugar and lemon juice.
  2. Add in the lemon zest. Mix until combined.
  3. Pour the glaze over the pound cakes.
  4. Immediately top with a sprinkling of sliced almonds, if using. Let harden.

Lemon Lavender Pound Cake

Back at it

Sunday, April 13, 2025

Jillian Michaels Body Revolution Dogbell, not Kettlebell

But this time with the daily, varied Jillian Michaels Body Revolution program. So far, so good.

Who needs kettlebells, when you have dog-bell?!

Recipe: Roasted Green Vegetable Soup [omg]

Sunday, April 6, 2025

Roasted Green Vegetable Soup Roasted Green Vegetable Soup

I make this soup on repeat in the winter. It's like a winter salad...don't skimp on the lemon juice. It's basically roasted garlic, broccoli, and lemon juice flavored! Great with a slice of sourdough bread.

Roasted Green Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 leek/onion/shallot, diced
  • 1 head garlic, top lopped
  • 1 broccoli, chopped
  • 1 zucchini, sliced
  • sprinkling of spices/za'atar
  • 1x 32oz box chicken stock
  • 15oz can butter beans (or cannelini beans)
  • 1c frozen peas
  • 2 handfuls spinach
  • juice of 1/2 a lemon

Directions

  1. Roast for 25 minutes at 400 deg: olive oil, leek/onion/shallo, garlic, broccoli, zucchini, spices/za'atar
  2. Boil for 5-7 mins: chicken stock, beans, peas
  3. Add roasted vegetables, spinach, and juice of 1/2 a lemon
  4. Blend until smooth
Roasted Green Vegetable Soup Roasted Green Vegetable Soup

MeMade Clothing: Ashton Top to make a matching set

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Ashton Top with Petal Sleeves Ashton Top with Petal Sleeves

These Winslow culottes were wasting away in the closet, partially because the rise is a bit too high, but also partially because I didn't know what to wear it with. Cue...a matching shirt!
A Helen's Closet size 14 with petal sleeves attachment, an inch added to the length for tucking in. French seams where it made sense to do so, as always. Fabric is Blackbird Fabrics Viscose Crepe in 'Bluestone'. 'Doesn't need ironing if I water-spray it before leaving the house!

Ashton Top with Petal Sleeves Ashton Top with Petal Sleeves