Making Kombucha #diy Step Two

I have the first step on making kombucha here. 

I left the tea to ferment for two weeks. You can do one week if you like it less carbonated. Don't leave it longer than two weeks, or you'll have a mess on your hands when you pop the bottles open. How do I know, I did it once. It was a mess any time I'd open them, but man it tasted great. 

You can put fresh fruit in the bottles, or blend it like a smoothie to put it in. I've done both, and prefer it blended. It doesn't matter what you use, just try and pair up like things. You only need 1/2 cup of smoothie like fruit. 

I used mango, nectarine, peach, ginger, and cardamom. That's my favorite combination!

I put the fruit in with a funnel. Then I fill the bottles most of the way with the fermented tea. If you don't like the vinegar taste, just add more fruit. 

Leave space at the top, for carbonation. 

I leave extra fermented tea in the big container with the scoby to keep it live and well. That gets stored in a dark place, out of the way. It keep it in the box downstairs with my canning stuff. 

Let the bottles sit out in a dark spot for two days. After that you are good to put them in the fridge. 

I've found Italian soda or fancy vanilla bottles work great! I used 3 Italian soda bottles, and 2 fancy vanilla bottles. 

When I drink it, if there's fruit on the bottom I use it in a smoothie. I use a glass for each drink, so I don't contaminate the main bottle. I'm the only one in the house that drinks it, and I make smoothies for the whole family. 

It is said that fermented anything is something we don't get enough of. It has natural probiotics in it. I typically make it because I like the taste. It's way less expensive to make it yourself than to buy it.

What flavor do you think you'd make? Whatever flavor I make I like ginger in it because it's great for inflammation with my asthma. 

Making Kombucha #diy Step One

I’ve been making Kombucha for awhile now. I’ve never great with remember the steps on making things that have extended processes - in the kitchen that is. 

My mom got me this starter set a few years ago. I think I waited a half a year to use it. Mainly because I got it at Christmas time, when very little options of fruits can be purchased. 

I’ve made three flavors. I happen to like peach, orange, mango, ginger, and cardamom. Any recipe you find online is great. You can substitute different fruits as long as it’s the same amount. 

What You Will Need: 

•A kombucha starter kit. 

•Inside it will have a code to get the scoby. You do not need to get this until you are ready to make your first batch. It does not cost extra for the scoby. Inside the box there is instructions on prepping the scoby. 

•Organic black tea either loose or bagged. 

•Organic sugar. This helps activate the scoby. 

•Organic fruit, and spices when you are ready for the last step. 

•Jars, which I’ve been keeping Italian soda bottles, and fancy vanilla bottles just for kombucha. 

First Step:

•Boil 4 cups of water in a big pot. 

•Cool for 2 minutes. 

•Add 6 bags of organic black tea, or equivalent of that for loose leaf tea. If I use bagged tea, I tie the strings together. Steep for 15 minutes. 

•Pour 8 cups of filtered water in with the scoby to the big jar that comes with the kit. 

•When the 15 minutes is up, pour in 1 cup of organic cane sugar. Stir with a wooden spoon, until it’s dissolved. It took me around two minutes of stirring. 

•Pour the tea, sugar water into the big jar that has the scoby and additional water. 

•Put a cloth over the jar, add a rubber band, and place it into a dark place for a week. We usually put it into the box the kit came in. Don’t forget about it. 

That is it folks. It's as easy as brewing tea. I tend to make it more of a process in my mind, since it's not something done in one setting. I will follow up with the next step in a week. 

Why drink Kombucha?

The drinks are promoted as improving digestion and diabetes, strengthening the immune system, reducing blood pressure and being detoxifying. Proponents also contend kombucha helps rheumatism, gout, hemorrhoids, nervousness and liver function and fights cancer. *Source

Kombucha is a fermented tea that has been consumed for thousands of years. Not only does it have the same health benefits as tea — it's also rich in beneficial probiotics. Kombucha also contains antioxidants, can kill harmful bacteria and may help fight several diseases.

Do you like Kombucha? 

@stemlabkids Bertie the Balance Bot Review

I really like toys that kids can build themselves. Recently Isaak got Bertie the Balance Bot from STEM Lab Kids to review. 

I was thinking he'd want help building Bertie. NOPE! Isaak wanted to build Bertie the Balance Bot himself. I sat back, watched, and took pictures between each step. 

It took about an hour for the bot to be built. It was a good afternoon. Isaak didn't get too frustrated. He did make a mistake, but it was way at the end. All was good. 

Parts:

There weren't a lot of parts. 

• Wooden pieces that were pre die cut
• Plastic pieces
• Screws - the set included extras if needed
• A battery holder
• Batteries
• A mini screwdriver
• Stickers
• A manual 
• A file - I'm assuming was for the wooden pieces if needed 

Isaak got right to work!

The manual wasn't too hard to figure out. He only struggled with two areas. Considering this toy was made in China, I was wondering if the instructions would be hard to follow. They weren't. 

The wheels were first on the list to be built. Popping them out of their wooden background makes Isaak uneasy. He feels like he's going to break them. I suggested he use a kitchen knife to help him push the pieces out. Of course you wouldn't want to make this suggestion, for any kid younger than Isaak. I was watching him the whole time. 

Isaak liked that the instructions had visual photos, along with text. He's an artsy kid, so visuals help. 

Step 1: 

Sometimes Isaak and I take things a bit to literal. One of the first instructions was to insert the axle into the pulley. They mentioned to use a wooden piece to help push it in. In the visual they show a wooden piece pushing the axle. Isaak was looking for that exact wooden piece, but the piece didn't exist. It was just to assist with pushing the axle in. I suggested to Isaak he go use his hammer he had from Lowes Clinic. He got that, and tapped the axle into place. 

Step 2:

Isaak got to put the battery holder in. 

The Middle Steps: 

Forming the box wasn't too hard. Isaak didn't need any help.

Finishing the last cube like panel was hard, for Isaak. He got it. 

Finishing it up:

I always panic inside when kids get to this point. Like will it work? Did he do this all for nothing? I knew this was for a review, so it could have totally flopped.

Isaak messed up with the batteries. That's something I've done countless times. What can I say? He's my son. We were both thinking it was not going to work. I suggested he put the batteries in the other way. Boom it worked. 

Finishing Touches:

Isaak used the stickers to decorate Bertie. You could go as far as painting the bot if you wanted to. 

Positives: 

• It encourages STEM Learning = Science | Technology | Engineering | Math 
• There's problem solving skills that occur with this toy
• Kids make Bertie the Balance Bot themselves 

Negatives: 

• They left out "A" in STEM to be STEAM - A = Art - Bertie uses art with the stickers and kids designing it themselves - Being a former art instructor this is important to me 
• The batteries are not the best brand
• The toy its self was made in China

Overall I think it's fun to watch kids process through something. It was like watching Isaak's brain wheels move right along with Bertie's actual wheels. 

Disclaimer: I got this product for free in exchange for an honest review. 

#WW Tomatoes {Linky}

Processing tomatoes is almost an everyday thing. I'm pretty sure we go through the longest way to process them. 

1. Pick Them
2. Sun Bathe Them in the Windows
3. Slice Them
4. Boil Them
5. Put Them in an Ice Water Bath
6. Peel Them
7. Deseed Them
8. Put Them in a Big ZipLoc Bag
9. Deep Freeze Them
10. Can Them When the Deep Freezer is Full

I'd skip the deseeding part, but I'm an ultra allergy sufferer. I've read that the seeds are what bother many with allergies. They get stomach aches, and don't even know why. Tomatoes were on the list of foods to avoid - from my allergy | asthma doctor. I only am supposed to avoid them during the season, when they grow. The same goes with squash. 

If you are ever frustrated with - LIFE, just go through the whole process. Read my captions, and you'll understand. 

The Attack of the Killer Tomato

The Sacrifice

Bobbing for Tomatoes

Peeling Some Skin

Naked Tomato Nest

Squeezing Some Guts

Are you growing anything in your garden this year?

Processing #tomatoes

Per usual Travis has a lot going on in the garden.

Things we grew:

• Kale
• Tomatoes
• Corn
• Popcorn
• Different Types of Dried Beans
• Basil
• Oregano
• A few Types Peppers
• Strawberries

...and more

He plants it, and for the most part I process it. 

We have a system with tomatoes:

1. We bake egg shells, grind them in a coffee grinder to sprinkle on the ground, where the tomatoes grow. They love the calcium! 
   
   
2. I have 3 windows where tomatoes go. 1 is for green and yellow ones, another is for orange ones, and the last is for almost ready ones. Once the almost ready ones are ready it's time to move on to the next step.
   
   
3. I slice the tomatoes in a cross formation. That makes them easier to peel. It feels a bit odd, like I'm sacrificing something. Ha! I find that ceramic knives work so well to do this. They are sharper. I don't want to cut into the tomato, just the peeling.
   
   
4. I boil a big pot of water, to put the tomatoes in for 2 minutes. 
   
   
5. Then it's time for the tomatoes to move to an ice bath. They sit in there, for a minute or two.
   
   
6. They peel so easily!
   
   
   
   
   
7. After they are all peeled, and the peeling has moved into the compost pile I cut them, and deseed them. Anyone with allergies should deseed tomatoes. The seeds are what many are allergic to. You wouldn't even know that you're allergic to them. You just get common allergies all the more, with ingesting the seeds. 
   
   
8. It's time to cut them, and put them in a silicone reusable bag, or ZipLoc bag. 
   
   
9. There is a ton of tomato juice. Travis used to dispose of it. One year I was like, "Let's keep it!" I have to say that I'm glad we started doing that! I use the cubes for soups, and any dish that requires chicken or beef broth. It adds flavor!
   

About TigexPro Silicon Ice Cube Trays:

You can get them on Amazon: 

https://www.amazon.com/TigexPro-Silicone-Whiskey-Beverages-Popsicles/dp/B082KFJHRV/ref=sr_1_88?dchild=1&keywords=whiskey%20ice%20cubes&qid=1586811325&sr=8-88&fbclid=IwAR1zsh0KBuPWWK3Kl-PDlIFGEoFlogWXzIKOGfDawZFHADNnHKyTATj8cMw

Cost: $11.99 

Included: A red and black silicone deep ice cube tray, with lids. 

What Else the TigexPro Silicon Ice Cube Trays Can Be Used for:

• Homemade Baby Food
  
• Frozen Fruits for Smoothies
• Frozen Veggies for Soups
• Ice
• Alcoholic Drinks
• These are deep enough, where dried snacks could go in each one, for little kids

Popping Out the Cubes:

They easily pop out if you run the bottom of the tray under warm, or hot water in the sink. They do have lids to prevent anything from getting freezer burned + to cover the cubes, so they don't fall in the sink + to pop out the cubes. 

I pop them out, once they are frozen, and store them in a big ZipLoc bag or reusable silicone bag. Then use them when I need them.  

What would you use silicone ice cube trays for?

Disclaimer: I got the silicone ice cube trays, for a discounted price in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

WW: Repurposed {Linky}

I've had the idea to turn a trunk we have into an ottoman, for quite some time.

I have nothing against CHEEZ-IT GROOVES, but just didn't know that I wanted a trunk that said that in our living room forever. I really liked the red, and the storage space. We needed an ottoman, so why not repurpose ?

My husband cut a board bigger than the trunk top:

He used stuffing from a loveseat we took apart, and lots of pulling, and staples:

I got the idea to cover buttons from my Grandma, who gave me a tin of buttons. The fabric was too thick, so we went with a scrap of red we had from something else. 

The fabric was left over from a chair he designed. 

He put screws up through the bottom of the lid, and into the wood he cut. Poof we had an ottoman! I wish I had one more. 

I didn't help as much as I thought I would, but the idea was mine. 

Sunny's #tipi #teepee #leopardgecko #diy #craft #gecko

Our Leopard Gecko Sunny got an upgrade tank. He had a 10 gallon. After doing some research we found out it is just too small! He needs a warm side of the tank, and a cool side. He should have 3 or 4 hides: One on each side + a moist hide when he sheds.

On Facebook Market Place I kept my eye out for an upgrade. Finally I saw one! A 30 gallon tank for $30. We had to buy a top cover, but that was a good price. I got some non adhesive shelf paper, for the base. He was in the tank as soon as Travis cleaned it up.

We filled it up fast.

I had this ingenious idea of making Sunny a Tipi, for a hide.

I seriously decided his tipi plans on Christmas Eve Day. I went out to get the material. Then on Christmas I started making it. I kind of felt like he deserved nicer things, than he had.

I knew I needed some kind of base just to help hold the sticks where I wanted them to be. I used the lid to Orange Slices bought at Walmart - God I love those things!

Then I figured out that most tipis online have 6 sticks. Kitchen skewer sticks are the perfect size for Sunny's tipi, so I used them. I just stabbed holes with a knife tip, and stabbed the skewers through. Then I tied the top with hemp rope, and secured it with Elmer's Glue.

After the anatomy to the tipi was made I had to cut out the canvas, and I started sewing. I sewed around all the skewer sticks, and I sewed the door open.

When I was all done, I took the base out. BUT it was too flimsy, so Travis was nice enough to cut out a masonite base. He glued the skewer sticks to it. I think that's great because it's less likely to tip over. 

I debated on using fabric paint to make a pattern, sew beads on (he just licks, doesn't eat things off like that), or add the God's Eye I made last year out of toothpicks and embroidery floss. I went with the God's Eye. It was the perfect size, and I liked the colors. It was originally made to be a Christmas ornament. 

I worried a bit with the top of the skewers, but Sunny doesn't climb in his tank. Only when he's being held. He'll climb up to your/my shoulder every time. The tipi is really steep. We didn't place it near anything where he could get from one thing, to the top of the tipi. 

Here was his new set up:

I couldn't see him enjoy it because he was sleeping under Travis' sculpture hide. I learned a new word lately. When an animal lays all flat like to sleep it's called, "Splooting". Sunny sploots all the time!

It didn't take long before I heard Travis say, "Sunny is in your Tipi! Come look! It's the cutest thing!"

Sure enough he was checking out the tipi. 

Do you see the back corner? That's where he typically poops.

It was days where we didn't see any poop in his poop spot. He always poops there. I was thinking, Here we go again! Do we need to start giving him baths, and put him back on meds? Then it dawned on me...I bet he's shitting in his tipi! I told Travis to check!

Sure enough...there was about 5 poops in his tipi.

His tipi is his outhouse! He likes to poop in private.

What's the craziest thing you've ever made?