diy

Mosaics

capty99 — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 02:42:59 -0600

It’s OK to admit it: you’ve fallen out of love. Your Field of Daisies yellow kitchen has withered away to a Dingy Dandelion in the last ten years and now looks more shabby than chic. But your pocketbook is still feeling the pinch from the new flat-screen in the living room. Breaking up with your home isn’t an option, but breaking up the monotony is. Creating a unique, do-it-yourself mosaic is an inexpensive way to bring a little life back into your relationship with your home, giving a whole new meaning to home improvement.

Consider the following helpful tips when crafting your mosaic masterpiece:

1

Stake out your space. Homemade mosaics aren’t just for kitchen backsplashes anymore. While great as a kitchen countertop backdrop, a custom mosaic can be an inexpensive way to liven up any lackluster room. That side wall in the bathroom, blank white space on the stairwell or outdated ceiling border in the dining room are all great places to create a mosaic update.

2

Be creative. This isn’t your grandmother’s mosaic…or maybe it is. Don’t limit yourself to store-bought tiles or materials when the damaged china you inherited from Grandma is collecting dust in the attic. Recycle the family heirloom and make it a permanent feature in your home. Other possible materials include glass tiles, mirrored glass, flat stones, glass or stone coasters, or original material of your choice.

3

Be thrifty. If your grandma didn’t give you plates or teacups, find somebody else’s. Garage sales or thrift stores are great places to find cheap ceramics, leftover floor tiles and old full-length mirrors begging to be reused. Otherwise, expect to pay between $3 and $7 per square foot for tile at your local home improvement store.

4

Be prepared. It takes more than an imagination to create a visual masterpiece. It also takes tools. In addition to the mosaic material of your choice, you will need tile adhesive, grout, tile snips or a hammer, a large sponge, a trowel and a grout float. Other useful supplies most likely lying around the house include a bucket and water, a writing utensil, and paper or cardboard.

5

Make a plan…or don’t. Having creative control over a mosaic is a dream for some, a nightmare for others. After breaking the tiles, glass or other ceramics with a hammer or tile snips (using safety precautions when working with sharp materials, of course). Spontaneous home designers should feel free to begin gluing in any pattern, trying to keep the pieces between 1/4 and 1/2 inch apart. For more deliberate creators, experts recommend measuring the dimensions of the space and, using a large sheet of paper or cardboard, making a template of the area. Arrange the mosaic pieces on the template and, once finished, transfer them to the space. It also might be easy to follow a pattern seen in a magazine, book or online.

6

Do the work. It’s fun to cut tile and cut costs, but try not to cut corners during application. After gluing the tiles pieces to the surface, wait 24 hours before grouting. Prepare the grout according to the product’s instructions, mixing well. Use a grout float to spread the grout evenly over the materials, and adjust the amount according to your desired texture. Wait 15 minutes, and remove excess grout with a damp sponge. After the grout hardens, polish the pieces of your stunning success with a dry towel to remove any film left behind.

7

Admire your creation. Stand back and appreciate all the hard work you’ve put into your project—and stand back just far enough so you can’t see all the little imperfections. Lastly, practice saying “Thank You” in preparation for all the compliments you’re sure to receive on your do-it-yourself mosaic masterpiece.

Scents of the Season : Mulling Spices

capty99 — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:55:03 -0600

One whiff of the rich aroma of mulling spices instantly brings to mind comforting images of nippy winter evenings with a steaming mug of apple cider. As popular today as it was in Medieval Europe, this centuries-old tradition is a surefire cure to cold nights, or a way get you in the holiday spirit (if the Texas weather fails to cooperate). An endless assortment of spices and fruit essences are infused into a variety of heated juices, wines, ciders or liquors to make a delectable fireside-worthy concoction. Using these simple guidelines, create your own unique blend of mulling spices that can be passed down for generations to come.

1

Seek out your spices.

Mulling spices vary greatly from culture to culture, generally incorporating cloves, nutmeg, allspice, star anise, cinnamon and various dried fruit peels, such as oranges and even limes. Don’t be afraid to get creative with flavor! In Romania, peppercorn and bay leaves add zeal to beverages. In Nordic countries, cardamom and ginger add a wholesome zest that was known to clear up stuffy noses and sore throats. A Texas secret to delicious mulling spices is a hint of dried grapefruit peel. Another Southern favorite is the addition of a vanilla bean, but be warned, the flavor can be overwhelming if you are not careful.

2

Spice it up!

The best part of mulling spices is that most of your ingredients will come already prepared or take very little time! Cinnamon sticks are easier to handle when broken into smaller pieces. Cloves, allspice, star anise and peppercorn should be whole or very coarsely ground. Allspice and bay leaves can be used either fresh or dried. Ginger works marvelously either fresh or crystallized. Fruit peels can be purchased dried and crushed from the spice section of your grocery store or for a fun and frugal way to use leftover rinds, try grinding fresh orange peels with your cheese grater. Nutmeg and cardamom usually come pre-ground.

3

Bring on the brew.

Choosing the right beverage to infuse your carefully chosen spices takes some consideration. Traditionally mulling spices served as a practical way to use wine before it went bad, and it is still a natural solution for those leftover bottles after a dinner party. Be inspired by a world full of traditions and try red or white wine, cognac, brandy or, for non-alcoholic choices, try tea or a variety of juices, such as blackcurrant and orange. Don’t forget the beloved apple cider, which deserves a seat at the table at least once during the chill of early winter afternoons. Once you have chosen your beverage of choice, pour it in a crock pot, stockpot or Dutch oven, and bring to a simmer over medium heat.

4

Manage a method.

Once you’ve chosen and prepared your spices, there are two popular methods by which mulling spices are infused into the beverage of choice.

One of the easiest ways to mull spices is with a cheesecloth bag. Choose a fine, unbleached version with a fine mesh. Good cheesecloth is worth a small investment; you want to be sure that it doesn’t alter the flavor of your spices or fall apart during the steeping process. Gather your mulling spices together in the cheesecloth and place directly into the simmering wine or juice. The length of time you infuse your spices depends on the strength of flavor you prefer. The longer the spices permeate the liquid, the stronger the undertone of spicy and citrus flavor. It is not unusual to simmer your beverage all day.
The direct approach. Another method to mull spices is to place them directly in the simmering beverage. If you choose this method, you might want to grind or break the ingredients into smaller pieces. Some of the mulling spices will dissolve in the steeping process, while others must be skimmed off the surface before serving. Glühwein, a traditional German mulled wine, is made with this method and it is not unusual to receive a steaming mug of this delight with a cinnamon stick or an orange peel floating on the surface.

5

The Final Touches

Serving the steaming hot beverages to satisfy your family or guests is naturally the most rewarding part of the process. Before you ladle your aromatic juice into anxious mugs, get creative with optional sweeteners. Brown sugar, molasses and honey are delicious ways to sweeten wine, brandy or cognac. Most juices are sweet enough to begin with, but raisins, berries or almond slices can compliment them beautifully. These ingredients can be added to the simmering liquid as it infuses or right before serving. Nothing brings to mind the holiday season more than the rich and complex aroma of mulling spices infused for hours in your cozy kitchen. The robust scent of nose-tickling cinnamon, the sweet smell of star anise or the citrusy aroma of simmering oranges swimming in rich juices will not only make your mouth water, but will quell that winter chill. So quit mulling it over and reinvent a tradition for your family and friends!

	Traditional German Glühwein Ingredients: 1 bottle of red wine 1 cup water 1 orange, sliced (do not remove rind) cinnamon sticks cloves honey Method: Mix all ingredients in crock pot or Dutch oven, reserving the honey. Simmer over medium to low heat for up to six hours. Do not boil. Ladle liquid into mugs and serve with honey as optional sweetener. Serve with fresh orange wedges if desired.

Traditional German Glühwein

Ingredients:

1 bottle of red wine 1 cup water 1 orange, sliced (do not remove rind) cinnamon sticks cloves honey

Method:

Mix all ingredients in crock pot or Dutch oven, reserving the honey. Simmer over medium to low heat for up to six hours. Do not boil. Ladle liquid into mugs and serve with honey as optional sweetener. Serve with fresh orange wedges if desired.

Butterfly Garden

capty99 — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 13:20:22 -0600

Text by Sarah Marcin With spring in full bloom, now is the time to liven up your backyard with a custom-made butterfly garden. Watching the colorful butterflies flutter around the beautiful flowers will give you an endless source of enjoyment and comfort. Butterfly gardening has quickly become one of the most popular hobbies and couldn’t be easier to do.

Here are some tips on how to transform your own garden into a gorgeous butterfly haven:

1

Find out what butterflies live in your area. A few butterflies common to Travis and Williamson Counties include the Silver Flash, the Zilpa Longtail, the Flashing Astraptes, the Mazans Sootywing, the Texas Powdered Skipper and the Bluish Banded Duskywing. This is just a taste! There are many more varieties that call Austin home.

2

Let a corner of your backyard go wild. Many butterfly species lay eggs on native “weed” plants like clover, Zinnia, Butterfly Bush and milkweed. Don’t bother mowing the area. Butterflies love tall grass.

3

Locate your butterfly garden in a sunny location protected from high winds.

4

Nectar plants supply food for adult butterflies, and a colorful variety will attract them to your garden. Don’t forget to include host plants, which are those preferred by butterfly larvae (caterpillars). Sunflowers, wild sienna, elm trees and passionflowers are some native to Texas, amongst others. Some nectar plants to choose from include lavender, purple verbena, orange and white coneflower and several varieties of aster and daisies.

5

Plant flowers that bloom at different times so that your garden provides nectar all year. Laurel cherry, wild garlic, Texas almond, sumac and buckeye are perfect choices for the spring. When summer comes around, the blooms of pepper vine, wild carrot, butterfly weed, rose vervain and several types of sage will attract your butterflies. In autumn, try bluebonnets, the cardinal flower, abelia and camphorweed.

6

In planning your garden, place short species of flowers in front and tall ones in back, and clump them by species and color. As butterflies search for food, they are better able to see large splashes of color than individual flowers. Butterflies are particularly attracted to red, orange, yellow and purple flowers.

7

Dark stones in your garden can provide a warm spot where adult butterflies can bask in the sun and warm their bodies for flying. Tree branches give the butterflies a place to perch as well.

8

Puddles or other shallow water sources are important as a source of salt and amino acids. Fill a shallow dish or saucer with wet sand and sink it into your garden soil. On hot days, butterflies will enjoy the moisture provided by the wet dirt.

9

Do not use any pesticides on or near your garden. Insecticides harm butterflies. a. If you have a pest problem, treat it manually. Pick off the unwanted insects or use boiling water on ant nests. b. Eliminate fire ants, as they are the butterfly larvae’s natural predators. Instead of poisons though, use growth hormone treatments.

10

A damp sand patch with fermenting fruit such as bananas or cantaloupe will attract butterflies. Also, red or orange sponges with sugar solution may be suspended from branches as artificial nectar sources when there are few flowers.

For more information on butterflies native to Texas and what plants they prefer, do your own research on the Internet or at the bookstore. You can also visit your local greenhouse or plant store and to ask a professional for advice. You will be amazed at your options.

After all your hard work, just sit back and watch as butterflies fill your garden. Not only are butterfly gardens a simple and fun way to see nature at its best, they also help to conserve these stunning creatures as their natural habitats disappear.