Rainy season

It's begun to rain in Universtiy Town. Summer is close. I remember when I first came to University Town, it was late summer, and every time I needed to go out, it was raining. It was for the summers that I purchased a pair of "Aqua socks" type shoes for walking to school.

I apologize for not posting last week. I was working on a report. This week is not looking much better...it's the last week of school. I've got two reports and two presentations due this week.

Around April 9th or so, I started working on the cleaning and retouching of my handbag. I've got it cleaned with the Leatherique, and now I'm working on recoloring the discolored spots--I purchased Tarrago shoe polish in "Pastel Blue." I never realized they sold shoe polish in so many colors, but am very happy that they do.

Last week, buffing the polish into my handbag was something of stress relief. If I needed a few minutes break, I took a microfiber cloth, and just buffed. The shoe polish smelled very much like a strong hand cream, not like traditional shoe polish.

I'm still trying to get the color in some of the spots just right. I purchased a stamping ink--Colorbox pigment dye--from Michael's, and now I'm trying to find Memories brand dye ink. I've been taking pictures. I plan to put up the entire process in one post when I'm done. I'm happy the way things are turning out, and I'm happy that it's something of a long process--it gives me a little something to do, something to keep me interested, something to learn. I mean, there is probably an easier and faster way to do what I'm doing, but I like the feeling of accomplishment as I muddle along.

I did find this guide helpful: Restoring Damaged Leather Handbags & Products To Use. The guide recommended a shoe polish brand and a seller--I went to the seller's store, and though I didn't find the brand of shoe polish that was recommended, it was how I found out about the Tarrago brand of polish.

I received a very sweet anniversary card from my husband yesterday.  It's going into my permanent collection.

Other than that, I got a wireless keyboard: the Logitech K350. I'm using it now, with my laptop, and I'm finding it to be lightweight (the keyboard is resting on my lap, while the laptop is on a stand) and the ergonomic "wave" design to be comfortable.

Yesterday, I was making spaghetti, and accidentally knocked the box off the counter. It made a beautiful mess.

I thought it looked structural:

From underneath:

And the same, taken with flash:

The penny remains.

Photo dump: Signs of Spring

By reader request:  photos of springtime in University Town

2010-04-12 Spring

Happy Easter

Happy Easter/Resurrection Sunday!

It's been a good holiday.  Last week I sent out Easter cards, and everyone received them.  I got to talk to all my card recipients, and I was thanked by all of them.  The highlight of the evening was having a nice talk with my parents.

As for earlier this week, I received my anniversary handbag in the mail.  I had gotten it off e-bay, and while it didn't seem so much in the picture, it seems that the bag was either well-loved, or not loved at all.  It was a little disappointing, but also inspiring--I have another project!  I did some research on automotive leather products, and eventually ordered two products by Leatherique--the Rejuvenator Oil and Pristine Clean.  Eventually I hope to post "before/during/after" photos.

I felt a little silly, because the leather cleaning products cost as much as the handbag, more if you count the shipping.  Did I really just double the price of my handbag?  Eventually I came to the conclusion that it's a separate project.  I wouldn't have problems with wearing the new handbag as is.  I've got other handbags that could use a little cleaning.  Plus, I have leather gloves that could use some TLC before I put them away for the summer.

And gloves!  I've taken out my unlined leather gloves for spring.  And now that it's after Easter, I can bring out the white ones and the pastels.  I'll wear them over my freshly cleaned rings.

I've been eating out of boxes, bags, and cans, it seems, for a while.  I started cooking again.  Yesterday, I made a flourless chocolate cake.  The recipe was from the Whole Foods website.  I bought a springform pan specially for the occasion.

I used Hershey's Special Dark chocolate chips, as well as their Special Dark cocoa powder.  I only used 1 cup of sugar, instead of the 1 and 1/4 cup in the recipe.  Also, I partly used liquid egg whites--I had the equivalent of 3 eggs worth of liquid whites in my refrigerator.  I thought I had enough for the entire recipe, but then my carton was empty, and I had to run to the store to buy (regular) eggs to finish the mix.  Luckily, the store had them in stock.  (I have been to a store where the eggs sold out on the evening before Easter.) I guess that's the danger of using liquid eggs.

Here it is 1) right out of the oven, 2) with the glaze on top, and 3) with a slice removed.  And yes, the cake deflated a little when it cooled.

The cake was brownie-like.  It was dense and moist, and the texture was somewhat crumbly in the mouth.  The inside of my refrigerator now smells like chocolate cake.  

The penny remains.