Gretchen's Creations

A Moment

2009-11-08T17:42:00.000-08:00

Today we hiked 8 miles. My dear husband took some pictures for me. That is Colorado Springs in the background~ Both of us at one point today said "I love where we live!"

Halloween Fun

2009-10-26T07:20:00.000-07:00

I had to share this! This is not your average box of Frosted Flakes but a BIG recreation fit to wear for Halloween! Max, my friend Jimmy's 11 year old son, decided he wanted to be Frosted Flakes for Halloween so Jimmy found this terrific computer server box from work (measures about 3' x 2'), spray painted it blue, cut holes, reinforced it and padded the inside for Max's shoulders. He then spent hours tracing out the entire design with an overhead projector. It took us about 2 hours to paint with tempera (the boys did help a little bit) and then when it dried, Jimmy went back in and did all the black with a Sharpie. Isn't it amazing? Isn't he a super dad? Let's hope we have a dry Halloween!

Blog Feature!

2009-10-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

That's right I have been honored with a blog feature over at Autumn2May! Please go over and check it out and comment if you feel so inclined~

Fall Freeze and Fall Listings~

2009-10-13T13:06:00.000-07:00

I didn't get out this weekend to get pictures of everything coated in ice, but Amanda who runs 2 fabulous shops Eenie Beanie Threads and Botanic Beauty took these wonderful photos and has allowed me to share them with you!

And I have 2 new listings up today in my Etsy store~ Happy Autumn to all!

Green Chile

2009-10-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

I was first turned onto the magic that is Green Chile when I lived in Durango, CO. Being so close to New Mexico it was hard not to be! I don't eat much pork though so I went looking for a recipe that I could either make sans meat or with Chicken. Over the years I have taken a few recipes and modified them into one that is flexible and can be made however you would like. A friend of ours used it to make traditional Pork Green Chile last week that was divine and I made it with chicken last night. At the request of Amy over at BeanPickleSprout I am posting my recipe. Think of it more as a guide though! Feel free to modify it to your tastes and heat tolerance. I used Big Jim Chile I bought at the farmer' s market last week grown and roasted at Hanagan Farms in La Junta, CO. I go back to them over and over again not only for their delicious produce but also because they are some of the nicest people you will ever meet!
Did I mention my sadness that the weather has turned to temperatures in the teens and everything being coated in ice around here? Usually we talk about it snowing by or more likely on Halloween, but not this year!
To bring this full circle, when the weather turns cold or people around me are sniffling I turn to making Green Chile: Full of vitamin C and depending on your tastes it can be full of garlic too!
It tastes fabulous with Buttermilk Cornbread and a dollop of sour cream~
Enjoy and let me know if you try it out!

Gretchen’s Green Chile

1 Onion chopped
3-4 Garlic cloves chopped ( I use more)
1 Tbs. oil
6 C. stock or bullion – I use Vegetable Better Than Bullion .
12 Roasted, peeled and chopped green chile (adjust according to heat of chiles this goes for seeds too!) Also use fresh chile when you can - It just tastes better!
2+1 Tbs. flour or cornstarch
Salt and Pepper to taste
2-3 potatoes peeled and diced
1-2 Tomatoes chopped OR 1 can diced tomatoes
herbs cilantro,cumin,oregano - whatever tickles your fancy OR whatever you have on hand
Chicken or Pork*

*If I add chicken I either bake it beforehand then shred or chop it when it has cooled. Or I sauté it up with the garlic and onion.

1. Sauté onion and garlic in oil over med low heat until onion is tender and translucent.
2. Add chile and stock. This is also when you will add any veggies or herbs of your choosing and also meat if you have precooked it separately.
3. Dissolve 2 Tbs. of the flour or cornstarch in a cup of hot water and add to the pot stirring to prevent lumps.
4. Simmer for 20 minutes then repeat the flour treatment except this time only 1 Tbs. flour
5. Simmer for another 30 minutes or so.

I like to make extra and freeze portions for later. You can either eat it as a soup with a dollop of sour cream and cornbread, use it in place of red sauce for enchiladas, smother burritos or eggs with it. It is so delicious and all the vitamin C in Green Chile will cure what ails you.

Pumpkin Seeds

2009-10-09T13:16:00.001-07:00

So here they are: my first 2 pumpkin seed bowls for sale on Etsy:

Pumpkin Anyone

2009-10-06T13:26:00.000-07:00

This is the first of my pumpkin seed bowls... or maybe I should say that I would love some opinions on this concept to help me decide if I should do a series of these or something else with the pile of orange bowls I just felted (see yesterday's post). My high school English teacher would shake her head if she saw that last sentence!
Anyway, PLEASE COMMENT: I might do a surprise giveaway if I hear from enough of you!
This one is a a small thank-you gift for a wonderful friend of mine.

Resolution, Bowls Before and After and New Listings

2009-10-05T14:57:00.000-07:00

I am singing the praises of my credit union this evening as I marvel at the ease with which I was able to file my dispute and how quickly the money has been returned to our account! For once things went smoothly and easily.

Now on to blogging about my craft!! That is right, I know it has been a LONG TIME but I am finally getting back into my groove with my felted goods so I have a few things to share with you today! Here for your viewing pleasure are before and after pictures of the bowls and trays I felted (fulled) yesterday:

I am in love with all of them in their fall glory~

And I have listed several new items today as well:

It Was Only a Matter of Time

2009-10-05T04:56:00.000-07:00

I feel the need to blog about this because for the longest time I have felt so lucky to not be affected. On Saturday I received a phone call from my credit union that fraudulent charges had been made on my debit card at a Walgreens in Lincoln, Nebraska. They called me because I had bought gas here in Colorado at darn near the same time and being the great credit union they are alerted me at once and froze my card and I thought those purchases. Unfortunately they have posted to our account so even though I know everything will be fine I have not slept much for the last 2 nights twiddling my thumbs until I can call this morning. Why do these things always happen when bills are due? I know times are tough, but... Thank you to all those out there who live honestly.

"Every act of dishonesty has at least two victims: the one we think of as the victim, and the perpetrator as well. Each little dishonesty makes another little rotten spot somewhere in the perpetrator's psyche."
Lesley Conger

What day is Today?

2009-09-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

The last day of summer! and right now it is 40 degrees out and alternating between rain and SNOW!! That's right snow. This summer has been amazing for it's bizarrely cool weather and now here we are with snow before October even rolls around. It is supposed to dip down below freezing for the next 3 nights so I was out in the garden in a wool hat, jacket and gloves trying to harvest what I can of my tomatoes, green beans, kale, chard, broccoli, basil, dill... I know i am forgetting someone. I covered the 3 gorgeous volunteer tomatoes that are growing in my pumpkin patch in hopes that they can survive another week and ripen up the beautiful fruit they are producing. I also dragged pots into the garage... my neighbors once again probably think I am crazy... or maybe they are used to it now.
If anyone has any suggestions for delicious recipes involving kale or chard please let me know: I have a lot of it! If anyone local wants some kale I would love to share~drop me a line so I can go cut some more.

I do want to alert you: all my faithful or accidental readers, that i will be doing some Yeah it's Fall! Giveaways coming up soon. So please check back in.

New Listings Today and a Treasury Feature!

2009-09-13T15:29:00.000-07:00

First of all I have listed or re-listed a plethora of items in my Etsy Store today. Please drop on in to my Etsy store and see what it new~ Here are two new items. Just click on the pictures to take you to the listings.

My Pinecone Tray has also been featured in a pretty Treasury called Woodland Autumn that is worth looking at for sure.

The Wedding Bowl

2009-09-13T15:18:00.000-07:00

One of my closest and dearest friends was married a couple of weeks back and I have just this last week finished her wedding gift. I needle-felted a free-form design on this wonderfully round and bright red bowl then re-wet it to dry it over a form once again to get the shape I desired for it. Congratulations Mariah and Noah~ I send you much love in your new life adventures!

Happy Labor Day!

2009-09-07T07:40:00.000-07:00

We went to the Balloon Festival this morning. After 2 days of not being able to launch because of high upper level winds this morning was perfect, sunny and gorgeous!

The Happiest Apple

2009-08-31T06:26:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe t hat in all my years here I have never been to the Happy Apple Farm! But last week, Amanda and I took the kiddos down there for some blackberries and apples. They drive you out to the fields on a wagon pulled by a tractor and encourage you to try what you are picking. Nothing tastes better than when it is picked right off the tree and eaten. Or in the case of out littlest adventurer: right off the ground~ In addition to the fruit I also purchased a jar of apple butter. We will be back again before the season is out for sure!

Swallowtail

2009-08-21T20:42:00.000-07:00

My Butterfly bush - Buddleia is a hub of activity these days. For the first time I have Hummingbirds who spend hours circling the bush. But the Butterfly bush holds true to it's name! I have seen at least one Monarch on it, painted ladies, hummingbird moths and both black and yellow swallowtails. It is gorgeous to look at and a veritable feast for all things seeking pollen and nectar. I even have to be careful when I choose to go weed lest I agitate the bees. Do you see the bee in the second picture? It is the sweet life for sure!

More Wild!

2009-08-12T17:18:00.000-07:00

Seriously! Can you handle it? I can't! I love where I live! Today working out in Black Forest the hummingbirds were all over the Agastache and Salvia. I snapped a couple of pictures and when I went to take another this fella flew right up for his photo-op!

When I came home form work I was greeted by a package from one of my most favorite people. Inside was Garlic and not just any garlic: Colorado grown, organic garlic that Erin helped harvest in the Durango area. I am so blessed ~ Thank you Erin!

Wild!

2009-08-11T06:36:00.001-07:00

This is a big catch-up day for my blogging. Things have been busy which is fabulous, but I am learning to juggle my time again since getting back to the world of adults and a job that doesn't revolve strictly around my son, home and husband.
This blog post is about the wonderful wildlife I have been seeing lately.
The first happening occurred at the same gardening client's house where I saw the bobcat. I was working in the back o f the house when the homeowner opened the ground level window next to where I was working, popped out the screen and insisted I climb inside immediately as there was a mama bear and cubs in her garage. I have never moved so quickly! Normally they keep their garage closed because of this exact reason but it was open for me. Her dogs were barking like crazy at the door to the garage and you could hear something big scratching at the other side and pushing it's weight against the door. Finally it got quiet so we went upstairs where we had a good view of the driveway and this is what we saw:
Mama and her 3 cubs had dragged the big Tupperware of dog food out by the driveway and proceeded to have a field day with it.
Meanwhile on the homefront... I had house finches build their nest on the top of one of my rose trellises. About a week ago 4 little babies hatched and they are the cutest things! I can hear them chirping when mama or papa come in with food practically anywhere in the yard. Who would have thought something so small could make so much noise!
And last but not least, I found a lovely Fritillary caterpillar in some of my Sedum. I believe this will become a Painted Lady Butterfly. I have had quite a few on my Butterfly bush and Monarda in the front garden this year.
More to come hopefully today on the actual garden. I should have some new listings up on Etsy soon that I am excited to share with you as well. Thanks so much for checking in!

Bobcat!

2009-07-26T06:08:00.000-07:00

I went on a drive last night around 7 pm to look at a perspective gardening job. The area is in North West Colorado Springs. I was driving up the actual street I would be working on and... a bobcat walked in front of my car, stopped in the middle of the street to look at me and then went on it's way. I have lived in the Colorado Rockies all of my life and have never seen one of these in the wild! No pictures of course but I did find a nice example from the National Geographic website with some great facts about these elusive hunters.

A Few Things

2009-07-21T07:17:00.000-07:00

I finally have a few minutes to sit down at the computer and blog! I feel like I have so much to share. Two nights ago I made a stir fry with veggies all from the garden: two types of beets, broccoli, carrots and 5 color silver beet Chard. It's true, I took pictures. There are few things that make me as happy as eating something I picked not even an hour before.
Last night around 12:30 a crazy storm rolled through with huge wind gusts, lots of cloud to cloud lightning and heavy rain but thankfully no hail. I sat watching it out the front window for a while hoping beyond hope that I would still have my beautiful tomato plants in the morning. Just North of us they had golf ball sized hail and a Tornado sighting!!
Today I am harvesting my remaining spinach and continuing the endless weeding that apparently goes along with getting consistent rainfall. It is a beautiful cool morning and I am feeling so grateful for it after the last few days of heat.

Pinecone Tray

2009-07-14T19:02:00.000-07:00

Listed today in my Etsy shop! My large pinecone tray.

Summer Heat and our first Beet

2009-07-08T06:20:00.000-07:00

I wanted to check in and say hello. Work at the Garden Center is slowing down now but I am no less wiped out at the end of the day due to the heat that has finally arrived. This has also made it a struggle to keep my garden hydrated and weeded when I am home. Needless to say I have been waking up early to get some of that done. We have been enjoying amazing volumes of lettuce spinach and radishes and now the bush beans, tomatoes, zucchini, swiss chard, broccoli and beets are starting to do their thing!

A new twist x 2

2009-06-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite felted pouches thus far is the celery one. It expired recently on Etsy without selling and I decided that it needed a little more, so I needle-felted poppies on it. The red looks so amazing on the celery green and really makes the pouch look complete.

I received a custom order for a blue heron bowl from a friend here in town who liked the Blue Heron In the Golden Sunset purse but wanted something a little smaller for a good friend. Blue Herons always make me think of my wonderful friend Everyday Yogini. One year for Christmas she gifted me the most beautiful calendar of watercolors from Heron Dance Press. You should check out their site! Absolutely gorgeous work.

Large Order Complete

2009-06-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

At long last I can report that I have FINISHED my large order! Here they all are~

Gardening and my Finished Bag

2009-05-21T06:12:00.000-07:00

It has taken over my life gardening has! I work 5 days a week at a fabulous (and bustling) garden center and on at least one of my days off I am working on my own landscaping and veggie garden. I am exhausted in the evenings but oh so happy. It feels great to be working again, especially at something I enjoy. I have been so busy that I completely forgot to post a picture of my completed Around About: pattern by the fabulous Amybel over at Knitting in my Backyarn.

Here it is in all it's glory! I have decided to use it as my new knitting project bag: it is much more practical having handles as opposed to the felted bowl I have used for so long.

Warm Wishes

2009-05-10T09:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all you fabulous Moms out there!