AfricanKelli

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Dear Finny,
How are you my friend? How is the running going? How is the garden? Is your sweet Bubba back on American time after his international galavanting? Speaking of, as you know I am leaving tomorrow on a jet plane and won’t be back again (for a few weeks.) Anyway, to hold up my end of the Fin and Donk Sewing Adventure bargain, here is my wrap skirt for the June/July challenge:

In a not so humble moment, I have to say this is my favorite thing I’ve ever sewn. I love it. I love the color, the simplicity and the way it swishes when I walk. It is just too fun! I can’t wait to make more of these from Nigerian prints when I get home.

In other news, and yes I know it has been blogapalooza around here as of late, but I’m weening myself from technology and trying to get it all in while I can: we celebrated AJ’s birthday early this morning at the bagel shop. You may remember AJ from previous hedgehog entries. He is one of my sweet friends and he was thoroughly surprised and happy with the delivery of a casserole of these heavy cookies this morning. He walked around the bakery handing them out to customers. Then he told me an hour later he had an artery exam. If I’d only known! These take four sticks of butter, 6 eggs, a cup of oil and lots of chocolate. Not to mention the cookies or nuts. They are basically a heart attack wrapped up in a cookie bar and I made him an entire casserole minutes before he was seeing a cardiologist. How’s that for timing? Nothing says happy birthday like a nice gift of cholesterol.

Okay, off to do some continent hopping. Last post for a bit. Thank you all for your sweet traveling words. Can’t wait to check in soon from the first stop: Nicaragua.

Take care Finny. Can’t wait to see how your garden goes when I get home.

Love,
Donk

“Feet, why do I need them, if I have wings to fly?
– Frida Kahlo

My new travel bag, made with some CAOK-gifted fabric featuring my favorite artist, from Viv of Maine. Amy Butler birdie sling, canvas interior and handle. Red polka dot pocket for luck inside. Will hold: stack of books, journal, camera, Nalgene, snacks, knitting project, gum, lip gloss and my passport. Something about traveling with a bit of Frida makes this all that much more exciting!

~K

Nora Desert, founder of the So Nora Dating Club, is happy to announce a new crop of ladies interested in finding their soil mates:

Meet Bea. “I love to cook. Bring a good bottle of emulsion and let’s get to know each other.”

Trish: “I love to swim, so pack your trunks! You bring the watering can, I’ll have the soil, and let’s see if we can’t figure out how to make it work.”

Rose: “Yes, my parents found the name ironic. No, I’m not sickly sweet. Apply only if you can complete the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle. Oh, and I prefer nitrates over phosphates, fyi.”

Lola: “I like coffee, bookstores and Star Trek. Do you like chess?”

Marnie: “Ohmygod! This is so fun! We should totally go out for lattes and shoe shopping. You need shoes, right? I mean, your pot is definitely leaning. Not to be rude, but I seriously think we need to go shoe shopping. See you at Lowe’s?”

Valeria: “Habla Espanol?”

Pilar: “My favorite days are 100 degrees. I love the soil I’m planted in and can’t imagine a vista better than mine from this patio. If you’d like regular sun, occasional rain and a good solid foundation, apply within.”

Marnie: “Ohmygod. I cannot believe you just said ‘apply within!’ hee hee!”
~K

My creative cooking side is pretty hit or miss, but I searched around to create a few dishes for weekend festivities without having to go to the grocery.

First up — pineapple upside down cakes for Alma’s early birthday celebration. I took a yellow cake mix, some applesauce, a lemon, a can of pineapple rings and some crumb mix I had leftover from a muffin recipe and threw them together. I used the applesauce to make the recipe lower in fat. Alma is dropping weight like it is her job and I knew she wouldn’t bother enjoying her birthday cake if she knew she’d have to run it off later.

Mike and Sam were in town and having a pool party. Mike called and asked if I could bring a “Kelli creation” to the party. I had about two hours to prep and no motivation to go to the grocery. The result was two-fold:

I took a package of taco seasoning, a can of black beans, a can of garbanzo beans and some pickled jalapeños (including the juice) and threw them into the blender with some lemon juice.

This dip I loved. It could be great warm with cheese on top, or cold with pita. It was just spicy enough and I liked the added white beans.

I also made some green tea sugar cookies. Morag (my old roomie) left behind some packages of Chinese green tea powder. I found them in the pantry and threw them in with my standard sugar cookie recipe, although I also added applesauce to these to make them more cake-like. The flavor was a muted sweet sesame. I really liked them, although I think I should have baked them for 5 more minutes.

I’m taking a baggie of food with me to travel — some to share and some to avoid eating mystery meat in a fit of hunger. Protein bars, instant oatmeal, Crystal light are all in there. I’m trying to convince myself I won’t end up drinking cold Coke in the bottle. Pretty sure Nirvana is inside a cold bottle of Coke on a hot, humid day.

~K

Amy Butler birdie sling #2, in home decor weight fabrics and canvas.
Pattern modifications: I did not use interfacing, but instead opted for canvas for the top panels and handle. I did not use the interior pocket pieces, but instead created a smaller, divided version. I still haven’t mastered the gusset technique, but for a great example of someone who has, check out this beauty.

Birdie bag #2 is off as a gift to a coworker. I’m making myself one of these, along with that skirt, this week sometime to jazz up my otherwise drab travel fashion.

~K