Tomorrow is Bike to Work Day. Will you participate?

Since I work primarily out of my home office/studio it’s not as easy as you might think to just hop on my bike and go for a ride (or go for a trail run). Keeping this bike on the trainer means I can bike in any weather and there’s no excuse for me to not bike for another cup of coffee (3-5 minutes, even though it’s just upstairs) or to do laundry (technically 2 feet away).

Just because I work at home doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have the fun of biking to work too!

I recommend both books and am still wondering when I’ll read my copy of The Feminine Mystique.

When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present
by Gale Collins
A Strange Stirring: The Feminine Mystique and American Women at the Dawn of the 1960s
by Stephanie Coontz

Those late nights lead to coffee in the morning and to a six-year quest to find a way to make coffee at home.

I know, it’s not a hard problem to solve, but we didn’t want to devote counter space to another gadget. I also did not want to have to buy lots of additional special things to make my solution work …

I’ve been through several french presses, which work, but I never wanted to get grounds specifically for a french press nor whole beans and a grinder. That meant that the standard grounds would find their way through the mesh filters and into every mug I poured. YUCK.

I have relied on instant coffee of both the plain and latte mix variety. It’s expensive and if I go the mix route, full of sugar and other icky stuff.

So I’ve struggled. So I’ve complained. I’ve desired a single serve brewer for years, but counter-space–even in our house–was something I was not willing to trade even for drinkable caffeine.

Two weeks ago, I accepted that I would soon need to replace the screen on my latest french press, a device in which I struggled to brew a single serving.

I complained louder and renewed my research.

Hearing my cries, a friend heartily recommended an aeropress. I was instantly intrigued and, with some research, won over. While a local chain store didn’t have it in stock, I ordered it online and began the continuous refresh of the delivery tracking page. Last week it was delivered to my doorstep days before I was told to expect the package.

It didn’t matter that it was after my current cut-off of 3pm for a cup of coffee. I tore open the package, cleaned the device, and brewed my first cup.

I fell in love instantly. I’m not sure what to say that hasn’t been said by others. While I’ve only brewed five times so far, I am still smiling after that first sip. I am excited and amazed to brew drinkable coffee at home!

What I appreciate the most out of this new system is how easy it is for me to clean up. After brewing, I take the bottom ring off, decide if I wish to rinse and reuse the filter, then head over to my kitchen compost bin and plunge the grounds in! There is no need to use a spoon, or add water to rinse them out, I just press and they are removed. My azaleas better appreciate all the coffee I’m drinking for them!

Disclaimer: I am just another happy customer.

The 39th Annual Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is this weekend!

I will be there on Sunday. We don’t have firm plans nor am I looking for any new equipment (though if an 18-24″ riggid heddle loom follows me home, I’m not going to complain).

Will you be there?

I’m not sure I’m adding anything new, but hopefully my voice will be heard and helpful for someone!

I admit it is now my primary weekday bag, I rarely carry the co-pilot. Why? The Swift helps me balance the demands of my two businesses, PennyWise Consulting, LLC and Little Acorn Creations with more ease than I often do.

How does it do it?

I had hesitated to buy this bag as I was concerned about its size and that it was too big. I’m known for carrying absurdly large items for my size — I’m 5’2. In any case, I fill whatever bag I’m carrying to capacity. The reason I wanted to purchase a swift was to eliminate the one problem I encountered with the co-pilot: the need for a supplementary bag for my oddly shaped objects. The co-pilot rocks papers and a laptop/tablet. It can also handle a library book. It can even handle some small knitting. But it cannot handle a container with lunch, knitting, three books, and the other random odds and ends I schlep around. I looked hard and long at the little swift which measures 6″ x 9 1/2″ x 11″ while the swift comes in at 7 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ x 13 1/2″. I wish I could say that I made the final choice due to size considerations, but honestly I chose by colour. Not all colours are always available on all products and over time many fabrics are retired. While I was greatly interested in the cork, my swift is olive and linen, which to me makes it a perfect year round bag, if I want to be fashionable (HAH) in summer I can flip and show the linen side. ;)

How does this bag perform in my daily life? It’s as good an assistant as Jane and is mobile. I can easily carry my tablet and keyboard with a project bag or two and still pick up a (library) book or three. What is most appreciated by me is that the pockets are zippered, clear, and do not go to the bottom. The zippers are such that the bag is securely closed and I do not need to overly fear wandering fingers snagging my wallet. I love the D rings scattered throughout — at the top of each side and deep inside too. With keystraps or my own clips, everything I need is easy to find and harder to loose.

As with the co-pilot, this bag magically holds more than I expect time and time again and does so while being lighter than I expect. I am happy I bought the “larger” swift. The only time I’ve pulled out a secondary bag was when I had some fragile items from the Green Market. Also, as a fiber person, I am very thankful there is no velcro anywhere to catch and ruin my knitting.

It should surprise no one that the December holidays brought me another addition to my growing Tom Bihn family, a small cafe bag. It is tiny! Sometimes I am sad that it is so very small, but it is perfect for running weekend errands when I have no greater need than to carry my wallet, a small notebook, my cell phone, and a hexipuff. One day I’ll review that bag too. Short answer: it does what it does perfectly for me.

My love and appreciation for the Tom Bihn company and the fine craftsmanship they put into their products has sold products I don’t even own! I believe that Beverly picked up their field journal a bit ago; I’ve heard good things about it and wish her well with the purchase.

Do I really need any more bags? No. Definitely not, but after hearing of Brenda’s sponsorship one can’t help some jealousy but spend time daydreaming and wishing…

But wait.. that’s just one Swift. What’s the other one?

Craftlit and its sister podcast Just the Books (which is Craftlit, but without the crafty talk) are now reading Gulliver’s Travels. You want to join in, I know it!

Disclosures: Please note I am just a very happy customer, there is no official affiliation between myself and Tom Bihn and I did receive nor do I expect to receive any perks.
My businesses, PennyWise Consulting, LLC and little acorn creations are currently sponsoring the podcasts.