Growing an Avocado Plant

We've taken up the trend of growing avocado trees from seed. We have been saving our avocado seeds throughout the year and trying our best to get them to root. We've has a bit of success and therefore we've planted them in small pots and then combined them into a large pot all together. They've struggled a bit, but they are growing. We haven't read about how long it takes for them to grow larger, but for now we are happy with what we've created. The plants currently share a pot with some ginger found in the back of our refrigerator a few months ago. Waiting to see what happens with that, as well.

There's different way to get them to root, but I've always found that the toothpick balanced on the top of a glass has worked best for us.

I like to wait until there's a good group of roots showing and a small sprout coming from the seed before transferring them to soil.

These are the plants that the seeds above created. This is about a year's worth of growing. There is ginger in the pot with these, but overall there's definite success with the seeds. It's kind of satisfying to know that you can eat the avocados and with a little patience allow it to continue on with life. Everything in this world has a purpose, and I feel that sometimes giving other living things a chance to continue on living, is a great way to appreciate life on a different scale.

Easy Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are one of the first things I learned to bake once I was out on my own. But having to ice them and decorate them, is mostly something for holidays and special occasions, unless you have the time and patience. Just having a simple sugar cookie on any day of the year, or even just a quick cookie to take somewhere, or to eat on throughout the week, is something a lot of us enjoy. Sugar cookies, just baked and left by themselves, is such a simple cookie to mix together. The key to these easy sugar cookies is to roll them in sugar before baking, without the hassle of cookie cutters, or icing. Here is my version of "Easy Sugar Cookies" that you can make any time of the year. And the best part, they're soft.

Here's how to make these easy, soft sugar cookies:

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp. baking power
• 3/4 tsp. sea salt
• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk

Mix dry ingredients together and set aside. Using a stand mixer, mix wet ingredients together starting with the butter. Combine butter and sugar, and add the eggs. Combine dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix well. Form into balls, about two tablespoons for each ball. Roll in granulated sugar, or colored sprinkles, flatten just slightly and lay on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for about 30-45 minutes, or freeze at this point to bake later.

Bake for 12-16 minutes at 350 degrees.

I would add to allow them to cool before eating, but nothing is better than a warm sugar cookie straight from the oven, so enjoy!

Five Simple Things (February 7)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This branch.

Every time I drop Skylar off at LBCC I've been watching this branch. It's a bit of a misfit branch that has grown in a direction unlike the other branches around it. Every time I see it I say in my mind, "Hold strong, little branch! Hold strong!"

2. This sifter.

It's new and it is a lot of fun to use. We sifted brownie mix with it recently and it made for a fun time in the kitchen for us all. *It's the little things, right?*

3. This kitty.

Always watching.

4. This food.

Super Bowl Sunday has us eating all the cheat meals. These 🌶 poppers are amazing!

5. These tags.

Always a positive message on the tags of the teabags from Yogi tea.

One last thing:

These cute pocket flower press and travel journal are now in the shop.

This Pocket Sized Flower Press is 2" x 4" with 1.25" bolts. Handmade and coated in an oil finish to preserve the wood and a lavender design carved into the top. The kit includes: Flower press, three cardboard inserts, and eight reusable blotting papers. It is a great addition to carry with you on hikes, or camping to press your favorite finds from flowers to leaves. The "My Travel Journal" has hand drawn details by bestselling artist Korie Herold and offers guided prompts, space for mementos, and cloth cover with foil accents. It also have archival quality paper with hand drawn artwork throughout.

You can check out the rest of the Five Simple Things shop here.

Positive affirmations this week:

Sometimes removing the stressors is all that you need to do to slow things down.

You can do this!🌈

Have a nice weekend.

A Walk Through Monteith Riverpark (Albany, Oregon)