Propagating Succulents

My succulent is exploding from its container. Out of all the plants in my container garden, it is the happiest in this climate. After reading on Succulent & Sunshine that succulent trimmings can propagate into individual clones of the original plant, I decided to give it a try (and put off repotting for another week or so).

Propagating succulents is actually quite simple. The important thing to remember is that succulents need to heal before begin put into potting soil.

Step 1: Cleanly snap off rosettes or leaves from your succulent.
Step 2: Place in a cool, dry place out of the sun. Watch for the "open wound" to scab over.
Step 3: Pot in a container fill with potting soil. Water, allowing the soil to dry between watering.

Rosettes and leaves

Hopefully my succulent rosettes and leaves heal up. It could take up to 4 weeks! I'll be sure to post pictures of them if it works!

Rabbit Munching on a Snack

I have been trying to capture a good photo of the bunnies enjoying their homegrown grass. The little buggers just move so fast! Here's one...hope the next few will be more clear!

Growing Grass Part 2

The weather these past couple of days has just been gorgeous. My grass seeds have begun to sprout starting with the clover seeds!

Can't wait to see what this'll look like tomorrow!

The styrofoam cup is ready for a trim!

 The rabbits munched on the grass in this pot two days ago. Here it is already partially recovered.

Growing Grass in the Desert

Finding a green patch of grass for the rabbits to graze in is a challenge in El Paso! During the summer rains, it's possible to cut grass just growing around the neighborhood (not on private property). With the seasonal rain coming to an end, however, I've been looking for another source of fresh grass.

I found this wonderful idea from therabbithouse.com, a blog from the UK (where rabbits are the third most popular pet, not including fish).



I decided to do a something similar on a smaller scale. The seeds are from Peaceful Valley, a company that sells organic heirloom and conventional seeds. Since rabbits and horses have a similar diet, I chose Premium Horse Pasture Mix. (If you are trying this for your own rabbits, make sure to buy a mix without alfalfa as this grass is not good for rabbits.) It cost about $4 for one pound + $10 for shipping. (I know! The shipping is much more expensive than the seed, but after looking at quite a few websites, this is the best price for getting just one pound of organic seed.)

Texas has not yet banned styrofoam cups.
Here is one from a popular local barbecue, recycled.

The grass in this pot was pretty much eaten down to
a nub. It's back after just a week!

Each time the grass gets eaten down to about an inch or so above the soil, it takes about a week for the grass to grow tall enough to be a significant snack. To make sure the rabbits could snack on grass every two days or so, I decided to plant a few more containers.

I started by puncturing holes in some yogurt and take out containers. An easy way to get through tough plastic is to heat up a bent paperclip with a lighter before pressing it through the bottom of the container. Rabbit poop is great fertilizer, so I decided to use some of it to act as a drainage material. There are some pellets of litter in there too, but since it's recycled newspaper, I don't think it's a big deal. 

The faded watering can is a testament to the merciless sun in El Paso.
Keep the grass in the shade!

The yogurt tape is covered with Washi tape. Cute!

Fill with regular potting soil and sprinkle with grass seed. The 1 lb. bag is meant to be spread over acres, so don't let the seeds fall too densely.

Water heavily the first time, and lightly in the morning and the evening. In the El Paso area, the sun is pretty merciless, so make sure the grass doesn't get too much.

And that's it! Check back in a few days to see the results!

Hello Again from El Paso

It's been a long time, but I'm back!

I left off last year after moving from Seoul, Korea, to El Paso, Texas. It has been a big, big change! I'm working as a preschool/pre-kindergarten teacher at a lovely small private school and taking graduate courses in Education at University of Texas at El Paso. The first year I was just swamped with juggling everything, but I am hoping to get back to writing this year.

Aside from a change in location, things haven't changed much. I posted some photos below of Franklin State Park, right smack in the middle of the City of the Sun. Enjoy and check back for more posts about crafting, cooking, and traveling.

Landscape and color scheme typical of the area. Beautiful pale greens and shades of earth.

These plants dot the landscape for miles around El Paso. 

Gorgeous lichen clinging to boulders along the trail.

The radio towers at the peak.

If you're thinking of hiking in Franklin State Park, make sure to choose a cool day or get started very early in the morning. The trail is not too difficult, but the sun can be brutal. Wear sunblock, bring water, sunglasses, and a handkerchief (it gets sweaty!). 

Weekend Eats

It's hard to admit, but sometimes children's snacks inspire my weekend meals. A sparse ham sandwich has been making a daily trip in one of my little girls' snack boxes for the past few weeks. This is my grown up version.

And what is a sandwich without a good salad?

Eli and I were lucky to find arugula at the local grocery store, Sahruga.

The recipes are as follows:

Ham Sandwich

1/2 round of rye bread from Peter Pan Bakery
2 packets of sandwich ham
2 handfuls of arugula
Cheddar cheese
Dijon mustard
Mayonnaise

Slice the bread into thick pieces. Spread one side with Dijon mustard and layer thickly with ham. Lay the cheese on top and put the two sides together. Slide the sandwiches into the oven or toaster oven on a cookie sheet. If possible, press the sandwiches down with a pizza tile.

While the sandwiches are toasting, wash and dry the arugula. Once the bread is toasty on both sides, pull them out. Add arugula and mayonnaise to taste.

Makes enough for 2 hungry people.

Caprese Salad on Arugula

1 small Mozzarella ball
2 small, ripe tomatoes
2 handfuls of arugula
1/2 can of whole pitted black olives
1/2 lemon
Basil
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt
Freshly ground pepper

Wash and dry arugula. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Squeeze the lemon over the arugula. Lay the tomato and mozzarella slices on the bed of greens. Chop the basil finely and sprinkle over the top. Add more olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Arrange the olives around the tomatoes and cheese.

Jillian Tamaki for Penguin

The other day, I was clicking through one of my new favorite sites - Purlbee.com - when I saw this gorgeous piece of artwork.

This is one of three beautiful covers artist Jillian Tamaki has created for the re-issue of three Penguin classics: Black Beauty, Emma, and The Secret Garden. The power of this cover in particular really draws me in. Lately I've been leaning more and more towards textiles and fibers in my crafting and it is awe-inspiring to see the things that can be done with a little thread!

You can check out the original post at Purlbee.com or head over to Jillian Tamaki's personal site. Be prepared to slip into a beautiful world!

Escape Within the City

Seoul sprawls over many rolling hills and there are quite a few little spots where Seoulites can get away from the traffic and the concrete. Luckily, there is one such spot close to my apartment. I'm still not clear what the name of this little stream is, but this lovely little water wheel usually entertains more than just human visitors. Storks, ducks and even fish hang out here, making it an ideal place for an autumn walk. The waterwheel is visible from the road, but hike past the wheel, up the hill for the best views.

The waterwheel

Little waterfalls spill over all over the hill

A peek of the city from the hillside

View Waterwheel in a larger map

Think Coffee in Seoul

Yes. In Seoul. This might not mean much to most people but what former or present NYU student doesn't know this logo?! I spotted an "Opening Soon" sign for this coffee shop and was absolutely elated. It was just by luck that I got a peek of the store front on my way somewhere else. As soon as I could, I made it over to Think and I have to say, "Wow."

The first thing that greeted me was a lovely sign that announced a 7am opening time. Oh, morning coffee! One of  starkest differences between the US and Korea is the time of day that coffee is taken. US: butt crack of dawn beverage.  Korea: afternoon or even late night pick-me-up.

I'll try not to wax poetic for those who have never been to the NYC location, but ah the memories! There were marble counter tops and wooden tables. There was even a glass case not unlike the original. Unfortunately the eclectic furniture was missing, but the menu was pretty familiar. Sandwiches and pastries...there are no egg creams or beers from Brooklyn, though.

If only this place were closer! I would definitely be there nearly every morning for bagels and cream cheese. If any NYUer's see this, give a shout!


View Think Coffee in a larger map

Inspired

My hunt for new craft ideas lead me to Purlbee.com and this particular little post caught my eye.

Embroidered bird

My little bunny has not so charmingly chewed a hole in my couch cushion, so I set out making a new cover for my cushions with this idea in mind.

A little help from the furry offender

It took a while, but it was finally finished last weekend!

I didn't do much planning except for bird outline. Perhaps next time I'll try to think a bit more before I set needle to cloth, but I'm pretty happy with it. 

Weekend Eats

When life gets tough, the tough get going. Once the work week is finished, I can put aside my tough demeanor and settle into some relaxing weekend activities. One of my favorites is eating. Below is a photo journal of the eating that's been happening at the nest recently, with some recipes to follow.

Eli's black beans and salsa, and breakfast quesadillas

Good 'ole pancakes, eggs and bacon

Shrimp alfredo and a glass of Cava

Min's Kitchen

Located just down the street, this new restaurant has been beckoning for a few weeks. Eli and I finally made it there last weekend for lunch.

The menu boasts modern Korean cuisine. The rough finish of the cement walls and the large windows contrasted nicely with the white table cloth and rustic ceramic place settings. If the interior design was any indication, Min's Kitchen is indeed pretty modern.

Unfortunately, there was no English menu and only one server who could speak a bit of English. Undaunted, we took her advice and ordered the lunch set for two. Since the menu was in Korean and the translation was very rough, I can't tell you exactly what the names of the dishes were. Instead I'll have to let the pictures speak for themselves.

There was also a soup with potatoes and squash that was on the salty side, but unfortunately I'd forgotten to take pictures of it.

Overall, the meal was quite good and not too expensive at about 30,000 W for two. I'd like to visit again though it might be best to go with a Korean friend.

Location:
189-11, Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea
02.324.5511

Cloth Bracelet

Nudged along by a few inspirational posts and pictures, I made this little bracelet out of scrap cloth. 

It's based on a simple sailor's knot. Check out how to make a bracelet like this one in Etsy.com's how-to article.

Home Plus Wines

Normally I am an E-mart shopper, but Eli, my boyfriend, has recently persuaded me to go to Home Plus. I'd been to Home Plus once before and hadn't been impressed, but I hadn't seen the wine section yet.

Home Plus is a joint venture between Samsung and Tesco - with Tesco owning 94% of the shares. This changes everything. I shopped at a Tesco when I lived in Prague, when I lived in Shanghai. Therefore far from a stranger, Home Plus is actually an old friend in disguise. With its global reach, Tesco produces and imports into Korea its own wines. The star of which is its Cava.

Cava is well described as the Spanish version of champagne. This one is delightful - perhaps because it is produced in its home country! With pizza and a light salad or with a fettucini alfredo dinner, this bubbly delivers just the right flavor. It brings me back to the first time I tasted it in Barcelona. What an unexpected pleasure to find it in Seoul for 12,000W!

The label of this bottle has gotten Eli and I to jokingly refer to it as the "Martha Stewart Wine." The quality of this bottle doesn't quite match up with that of the Cava, but nevertheless, it is the best of the 9,000W wines I have had in Korea. Yup. 9,000W for a decent Malbec. It isn't awesome, but it really hits the spot when you'd rather not spend more than 15,000W for a bottle of wine.

Muuido

6 am on the beach, just after sunrise.

A beach trip slipped in before the cool autumn weather is pretty irresistible. So despite a gloomy weather forecast, the boyfriend and I decide to go along with our plans to head out to Muuido over Chuseok.

Muuido is an island located just off Incheon Island. In fact, it is just minutes away by bus and ferry from Incheon International Airport. We left the concrete jungle and about 2 hours later, we found ourselves in a local bus winding through the hilly island's bumpy roads. Along the coast boats lay on mud flats, waiting for the tide to come in. Nestled in the hills are small vineyards growing table grapes. Accommodations on the beach consist of three rows of beach bungalows available for 40,000 W a night. There are several bathrooms and a shower room as well. 

adventureteachingkorea.wordpress.com

The food out on the island isn't fantastic, but there is a barbecue restaurant at one end of the beach and a convenience store near the entrance to the beach. The convenience store sells ice cream, beer, ramen, various chips and cookies, and hats. It does not sell sunblock lotion, however, so don't forget it!

Outdoor seating at the barbecue.

This beach is popular with Koreans for clam digging. When the tide is out, groups armed with buckets and trowels head out onto the mud flats to dig up their dinner. Quite a few came back with full buckets. We didn't head out ourselves, but we did find some pretty neat things along the shore.

At this time of year, the tide comes in at 5am and 5pm so swimming didn't really happen. Still, the weather was perfect for laying out with a good book and some frisbee tossing.

Low tide.

Getting there:

Airport buses from all over Seoul deliver you right to Incheon International Airport for around 10,000 W. The newly opened subway line to ICN is another good option. It stops at Seoul Station and Hongik Station, and costs 3,700 W.  Once in ICN, head over to Exit 2 on the 3rd floor and get on Bus 306. Get off at the first stop, where you'll see signs for Muuido. Follow the signs until you see a bus stop for Bus 222. This will take you to the ferry terminal. A roundtrip ticket costs 3,000 W per person. Once you land on the other side (a 3 minute ride), jump on the local green bus and get off at the second stop.