When new homebrewers start out, they often only have a few pieces of equipment. The volume of alcohol in fermentation can vary based on the recipe, the type of alcohol, and the fermentation conditions. The amount of head space you should leave may vary greatly, depending on who you ask. What is Head Space in…
Homebrewing with a Wine Kit
A wine kit is a great way to get into home brewing if you’ve never brewed before. If you’re an experienced home brewer, you may consider picking up a kit just for a quick and easy recipe (cause home brewers are home drinkers, amiright?) I picked up a Wine Kit for a California Pinot Noir…
Top Home Brew Kits for Any Experience Level
Homebrewing can be intimidating if you’ve never brewed beer, wine, or mead before. Using home brew kits can make it easy to put together basic supplies and ingredients, especially if you want to get a gift for a potential new homebrewer. Equipment home brew kits will give you everything you need without going over boarding,…
Hiking Mount Walker – Olympic National Forest
Don’t let the impression of just a few miles sound like an easy hike; Mount Walker is a steep, 2000′ elevation gain hike that is rated as moderate by the rangers and by All Trails. To be fair, the trail is well maintained, easy to follow, and pretty smooth. However, the slope is relentless. During…
Vashon Farmstands – Enjoying Local Produce
When an errand ejected us from the Kitsap Peninsula during the middle of the pandemic, Phil and I decided to make a socially distant day trip out of it. In the middle of the Southworth to Fauntelroy Ferry, there’s a short stop at the Vashon Island dock. Neither one of us had ever explored the…
Wild Huckleberry Jam
Growing up, my brothers and I were warned of the dangers of eating wild berries. Holly bushes, with their bright red berries, not to mention other random plants in the South, were of particular temptation with their bright red fruit. Not that we were ever severely tempted to just eat random things outside… but did…
Staircase Rapids – Hiking in the Olympic National Park
There is nothing like wandering around a grand, dark forest to feel in tune with nature. With towering trees above you, the gentle patter of rain, and the rush of wind, you can feel lost in the untamed wilderness from the safety of the trail. We had the fortune of escaping into the Olympic National…
Dahlias – Big Showy Blooms
Dahlias are famous throughout the Pacific Northwest. This huge, showy flowers bring bold color to the scenery. Even post offices boast huge plots, sponsored by the local Dahlia society. Growing these big, show stopping blooms has to be hard, right? Pike Place Market’s Flowers The first dahlia I ever remembered seeing was in the Pike…
Making Blackberry Wine
At this time, this post DOES NOT contain any affiliate links. Blackberries grow like weeds in the Pacific Northwest. With stolen time, I managed to pick around 12 pounds this year to make jams and jelly. The majority went to blackberry wine. Blackberry wine is super versatile and can be made as sweet or dry…
Restoring a MidCentury Modern Coffee Table
Stained with dark gray water stains, our vintage midcentury modern coffee table was a sentimental piece. My husband inherited it from his great aunt, who had originally bought it in the 1950s. It matched her dining set and end tables, which we also received. However, the peeling varnish and dark marks left it wanting. We…