Cold Brewed Coffee Experiment

This afternoon I decided to try making cold brewed coffee. I googled it, and wrote down a few recipes. I decided to start with one that would fit easily in my French press coffee pot. It calls for 2/3 cup of coarsely ground coffee, and three cups of water.

That sounded like an awful lot of coffee to me, but I decided to try it. With some of these recipes, you dilute the coffee with water. You can store it in the fridge. In that case, it would work for me, financially. I generally use half as much coffee as this each morning for my three cups of hot coffee made in the French press.

If this is diluted to one part coffee, one part water, it will work for my budget. I like the idea of having my coffee already made in the morning. The older I get, the more foods and beverages I like to make in advance. I buy  French Roast coffee beans at Costco, because they are available in bulk at a competitive price.

The brew is sitting on the counter right now. It will be ready at 6:00 tomorrow morning. I am excited to try it. It's kind of like making sun tea, without the sunshine. People online are raving about the taste, so I'm interested to see how I like it. Many people buy it premade at Trader Joe's. Have you ever tried cold brewed coffee? What did you think?

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When A Pension Isn't Worth It

In the recent comments, some of you asked about the outcome with my pension. After running the numbers, I realized that it wasn't worth it. The documentation that I had for work in 1985 didn't count, due to the rules and requirements at that time. Back then, you needed ten years of union employment with Actors' Equity Association.

I was considering looking into stage management  to provide the needed one hour of work, which I was told would qualify me for my five year pension. Some older dancers have been running lunch for the creative team.

The thing is, I would have to rejoin the union, which would cost $1,600. I'm not sure what the dues are now, but I remember them costing over a hundred dollars a year when I was in my early thirties. I dropped out of the union when I bought my house. The money I would receive  would get eaten up by those expenses, so I plan to focus on my writing.

I am happy with the amount of social security that I have earned.  Fortunately, my expenses are very low. That makes all the difference. A modest home and an older car can make life much more affordable.  Using public transportation regularly helps me to stay within my gasoline budget.  Prices here have risen; I paid $42.00 yesterday for ten gallons of gas! That's a significant increase. I normally pay $35.00. I will be driving less, and biking and taking the bus.  Thank goodness there is a stop a couple of blocks from my house.

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Persistence

cloudy skies in Ojai, California

One of the qualities that I always relied on as a dancer was persistence. My ballet teacher taught us that ballet requires "the three p's": practice, patience, and persistence. That advice always got me through the rough patches. I apply that same principle to my writing. It's important to keep doing the work, and showing up at the page. I just reworked a pitch that I sent to my editor at Dance Magazine. So much of being an artist has to do with being able to take direction. I thought about her suggestions, and came up with a completely different angle. I typed it into an email, and sent it to her office in New York.  After that, I made a batch of chicken stock and Mexican rice, and took Lula for a walk.

Later on, I finished redoing the left shoulder on my sweater.  Tomorrow I will unravel and reknit the right side. It is a relief to finally have it done correctly. I wrote in my notes where and why I went wrong, in case I decide to make this sweater again. It really is lovely.

I sent out several messages to producers and stage managers yesterday, letting them know that I need one hour of work to qualify for my pension. I hope that something develops, but I've decided not to stress over it. Money can come in many different ways. I received some very kind and helpful responses. Apparently, there are many people in the exact same situation.

I also left a message for Suze Orman. I thought it would be interesting to hear her take on artists and dancers, and their retirements. I regularly listen to her podcast at suzeorman.com. It is fascinating to hear about other woman and their finances.I always learn so much from her.  How are things with you?  

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Knitting Frustration

Today I took a  bike ride in the sunshine with my little neighbor. I came home and finally picked up my knitting again. I tried for a third time to get the short rows to work out with the right count. I was still one stitch off, so I did a make one. Now I think it's just how the pattern is written, because I had to decrease later to get the correct number of stitches. Translations in patterns can be confusing. Oh well. It's gorgeous yarn, and once I redo the other side, (for the third time,) I will be out of the woods. I was feeling like I had never knit before, and it was aggravating. I forced myself to work through the negativity.  It was really tempting to quit. 

On a more positive note, I found documentation for the sixth year of work that I need to qualify for my pension. I am so glad that my mother saved my programs and  reviews. She had them all organized in an album. This one is from 1985. It's just what I need to send to the union. I am so relieved. I think a lot of performers don't apply for their pensions, because it requires some intense record keeping. I sent in the first letter that they need today. I will follow up with the rest of the paperwork next week. How was your weekend?

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Using Less Gasoline

The rosemary is in bloom

Part of the way I stay on my budget is by filling up my gas tank once a month. I take the bus for any extra trips to the grocery store, pharmacy, or post office. It works out well. I can also walk or ride my bicycle to many  places.  Location is key.  Yesterday I walked Lula to the shop where we buy seeds and pet food.


I opened a new savings account on Thursday. My credit union closed their local branch,  so I have to drive thirteen miles to do business with them. I take advantage of online banking and the mobile deposit app to save on transportation costs. Citibank one is just three minutes from my house, and they have branches all over America.

While I was there, the woman helping me asked for my social security card. I had to go home to get it. I had taken the bus to save money, but I decided to drive back with Lula. I was a little worried about leaving her in the car. I thought it would just take a few minutes, but the woman helping me  had to retype in all of my information. I told her not to worry, but that I might need to go check on my dog. "Oh, we allow dogs," she replied.  I was so shocked. "In a bank?" I asked. "Yes, as long as they're friendly. We have dog treats," she added.  She was so sweet.

Well, now I really love my new bank. Lula was thrilled to join me inside, and she was given four delicious treats by two different employees. It reminded me of when I lived in Europe. People took their dogs everywhere.  You would see them in the shops, hotels, and restaurants, and they were all very well behaved.   

I have almost used my tank of gas for this month. There is still enough left to last me until my next refill. March included a lovely day trip to Ojai, and another one to Disneyland. It just took being mindful.  How much do you spend on gas per month?

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Replaced the Shower Head Myself

Yesterday I went to the hardware store to replace my shower head. I took the bus to save money. While I was in the aisle at the store, I realized that I had left the bag  with my old shower head in it hanging on the front door.  I was in such a rush to get to the bus stop that I almost forgot to wear my bike helmet, too.  I had to ride back home and retrieve it. I returned home by bus, and drove back in the car with Lula. So much for saving money.

The woman who works there, (and owns the shop with her husband,) recommended that I just get the replacement hose, since I thought the head was still okay. My intuition told me to buy the whole thing, but I ignored my instincts. (which I shouldn't have done.)

I came home, watched the Youtube installation video, and tried to replace it. No luck. The plastic ball had a crack in the washer.  I attempted it three times and gave up.  I made a third trip to the hardware store and returned the hose in exchange for a new Water Pick complete shower head kit.

By this time I had plenty of practice, so I quickly installed it. I felt like an old pro.  It works perfectly. There was a time when I would have thought that I needed to hire a handyman to do this for me. Not anymore. It is very satisfying to fix things yourself and to save the money.  I love Youtube. Do you do any of your own home repairs?

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Estimating Your Retirement Income

hot processed soap in the crockpot

This morning I searched Social Security's website and entered my personal information. I was curious to see how much money I will receive when I reach retirement age.

I was very pleased when I read the  results. If I start collecting it at age 62, the amount will be $662.00 a month.  If I wait until I'm 67, it goes up to $941.00 per month. If I stay disciplined, and collect it at age 70, it jumps up to $1,167.00 a month. Wow! I plan to wait until I am 70, (if I make it,) and collect the maximum amount.

I will also be eligible for Medicare, which will help my budget. Health insurance is my biggest expense. It will continue to get more expensive as I age.  When I hit age 65, I will probably buy a gap policy; I need to research them. I have always been in excellent health, and I hope to stay that way. At that time I will be able to take the bus for free, and will qualify for a  free gym membership through Silver Sneakers. I find that very exciting!  It pays to have a long work history.

I plan to continue to work, making my soaps, selling my hand knits, and writing for magazines. I will have investment income, as well. So, the future  looks bright and fulfilling. I called up Equity to inquire about my pension, and it turns out that I am two weeks short of the amount of work that I need to qualify.  I thought that the AGVA shows I did as a Rockette and with Juliet Prowse count as working weeks, but they don't. Oh well. Maybe I can drum up something. I will look into it.

It's a relief to see the totals and to plan for the future. I filed some more paperwork today. I do a little bit each day now, instead of letting it pile up into an intimidating mountain. (which is what I used to do.) I am so glad that I bought a small, modest home, and paid it off like Suze Orman teaches.  Onward.

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Fixing Shadow Wrap Short Rows

This afternoon I fixed the shadow wrap short rows on my Stockholm Sweater. I redid the right side. I will work on the left side tomorrow, It also needs to be redone. The first couple of rows have some puffy stitches. I think I was slipping them over to the opposite needle incorrectly. It could also have been that I was binding off too loosely, too. I'm not sure.

I had been avoiding ripping this back and fixing it. I found a video on Youtube that demonstrated the shadow wrap technique, and watched it several times. It isn't hard, but it's just very different than what I'm used to doing. I've done a wrap and turn short row in the past. I love the effect of this one, though. When done properly, the line is invisible. It kind of reminds me of how kitchener stitch looks on the toe of a sock.

Once I'm finished fixing the rest of the short rows, it will be smooth sailing. Most of the remainder of this sweater is in stockinette, and the decreases are the standard SSK and K2tog.  The bottom is ribbed. I may learn an Italian bind off to stretch my skills.

 I'm so excited to be past that difficult section. Fingering weight yarn held doubled is a challenge. (especially when you are working with four skeins at a time.) How was your weekend?

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Cutting the Confetti Soap

This morning I took the soap out of its mold. I let it sit for a few hours before cutting it. I wasn't able to get as clean of a cut as I would have liked, but I think the soaps are still lovely.  I was nervous about how they would come out; I can trim off the raggedy bits.  It's a relief when a new technique works.

I've been doing a lot of housework today. I needed to clean and straighten. I've really got to go through my kitchen cupboards and get rid of the things that I don't need. They are taking up too much space. I will put together a donation bag for the Salvation Army.

I plan to spend some time knitting my sweater today. For some reason, I haven't been knitting. I think it's because this is a new technique that I'm doing.  I have to concentrate and study the directions.

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Making Natural Soaps With Colored Shavings

Yesterday I made a batch of soap using Crisco, olive oil, coconut oil, coconut milk, sodium hydroxide, and blueberry fragrance oil. I grated up a bar of pink hot processed soap that I had made last Christmas, and stirred it into the batter.  I am dying to cut the bars. I need to leave the loaf in the freezer for one more night. I also have to make sure that the soap defrosts  before cutting. If I don't, the bars will crack. Ask me how I know...(I learned these things the hard way.)

I experimented with putting some green shavings of soap into my last batch of Coconut Dream soap.  I was initially disappointed with the way they looked, but after using them, the green color appears. I think they would be fun for children.  The look and texture of these makes me feel happy.I love the pale pastels of milk soaps.

I also baked a blueberry lemon tea bread the other day. My neighbor had given me a huge bag of  fresh Meyer Lemons from her tree. I squeezed them with my Braun electric juicer, and poured the juice  into ice cube trays. I don't want the lemons to go bad. This way I will have enough lemon juice for the rest of the year. Lemons are very expensive in the stores. My own tree hasn't given me any fruit in the past few years. This morning I noticed several blossoms ready to bloom, so I am hopeful.

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Creamy Coconut Oil Soap Recipe

24 ounces coconut oil
3.5 ounces lye
9 ounces distilled water or rainwater

Melt coconut oil over low heat or in microwave. Add lye to water, mixing carefully and thoroughly. Be sure to follow all safety precautions for when working with lye. Let the oil and water cool for twenty minutes.

Stick blend the oil and lye water together. Once it reaches trace, pour into molds. Cover and let set. This soap hardens very quickly. It is ready to unmold in a matter of hours.

Let bars cure for six to eight weeks before using.  They will be very hard and long lasting. They work well with detailed molds.

If adding fragrance, use .8 ounce. For coloring, I used 1/2 tsp. of  rose Brazilian clay.  


This recipe has 20% superfat.  It's an excellent bar for hard water. 

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Six Common Financial Mistakes Dancers Make Link

I received an email from my editor at Dance Magazine this morning. My latest article with them is now live. She reminded me to type up an invoice and to send it to the editor in charge of mailing our checks. It's always exciting to get published and to make arrangements for getting paid.

Here is the link to the article.

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Unmolded Two More Batches of Soap

butter soap

This morning I unmolded the shampoo bars and the butter soap. I made them on Friday. I filled three soap orders last week, so I am replenishing my supply. I went to a few different stores searching for macadamia nut oil, and couldn't find it anywhere. I ended up ordering it online, from Amazon.

Yesterday I checked on my Etsy orders to see if they had arrived. They were all marked "delivered." Phew! I am always relieved when the soaps are safely at their destination. One of my friends sent me a message that said, "The soaps arrived. They smell delicious!" That made me smile. This is her first time trying them.  We danced together twenty-five years ago at MGM.

socks with a short row heel

Today I am baking a loaf of No Knead Bread. It's on the second rise right now. I had forgotten that I had it in the oven overnight. At lunch time I smelled something odd, and then remembered it was there. It's such a treat to have homemade bread. I had stopped eating baked goods for a while, because I suspected they were making my legs ache. Since adding back the bread, my body is fine. It's such a treat to enjoy a chewy slice of buttered bread with my nightly salads.

I finished the blue striped socks that I was knitting. I will send them to my friend Eileen as a Mother's Day gift. I think she'll  love them.  We wear the same size shoe.  I gave her a homemade heart soap last time she came to LA to visit. She was so appreciative.

one of my walks with Lula in Ojai

I took a bike ride with Lula and my little neighbor this morning. She's such a sweet little girl. She's always in such high spirits, and tells me all about her daily activities. How is your weekend going?   

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Disneyland Journal

You can see a little bit of the Haunted Mansion on the left

I am still on a high from my trip to Disneyland on Wednesday. I arrived at 2:00 in the afternoon and stayed until 7:00 p.m. They close at 8:00p.m., so I decided to leave early to avoid traffic. It has been so enjoyable  reading all of your stories and memories. Thank you for posting them in the comments.

Disneyland is having a special for Southern California residents. For $179.00 you can attend the park for three days. There are certain restrictions, and it's only good for the next couple of months. Certain days are blacked out on the calendar. Still, it is tempting. Parking is $25.00, though, so that's something to consider. In my case, I may just go one more time this year, and pay full price.

For my first ride, I started out on the Matterhorn.  It was kind of scary. For some reason, I remember thinking that Disneyland was full of kiddie rides, and that Magic Mountain had the daring and dangerous roller coasters. This time I found a lot of the rides exciting but frightening, especially for kids. I just see everything so differently now. There were so many skeletons and death symbols. Still, the contrast with the happy, joyful music and scenery was uplifting and amusing. I love the artistry and skill of all the people that Walt Disney  hired. I was a bit worried about my replaced hips on this ride. We banged around a lot. It was exciting, but I'm not sure I would ride it again. I don't want to mess up Dr. Matta's fine surgical work.

The signs are all so quaint

I rode the carousel, which I loved. And I found a horse that went up and down. I remember being very disappointed in being on a stationary one as a child, while I watched my brother rise and fall next to me. I was upset, envious, and felt cheated. The next minute I was elated with It's A Small World. The music and dolls filled my heart with joy.  It's funny how many memories come flooding back into your mind when you return to a theme park.

I went on my two favorites: Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion.  They are still both amazing. I was terrified in the dark elevator in the Haunted Mansion.  It felt a bit claustrophobic to me. Since I knew what was coming, I was able to relax and go with the flow. The theatricality and surprise elements were so impressive. It's amazing how many of your senses are engaged.  I just love this place!

While most of us were frolicking from ride to ride,  humming Disney tunes, some were texting.

They let me have dessert at the Blue Bayou restaurant. I had eaten breakfast and lunch before leaving my house, and I decided to eat dinner when I arrived home. (especially when I found out how much the parking cost!) The hostess got permission from the manager to let me just have dessert. I ordered a piece of  vanilla bundt cake, and it was absolutely delicious.  It cost  $9.50, and I left my waitress, Kristen, a two dollar tip. I got to sit at the edge of the water and watch the boast float by from the Pirates of the Caribbean. Many of them were empty! It was such a shock. The entrees at this restaurant  were very expensive. It's a fancy, classy place. I enjoyed the mood lighting and the atmosphere.

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Disneyland In The Rain

Winnie the Pooh Shop

Yesterday I made a last minute decision to drive to Disneyland in Anaheim, California. A friend of mine posted on social media that he was there, and that there were no lines. I had been wanting to go for ages, so I grabbed Lula and jumped in the car.

On Splash Mountain, the ride operator asked me if I wanted to stay on and ride again!

I had finished editing my latest article for Dance Magazine a week early. My editor and I were really in sync. It's going to be published early next week. I stopped on the way at the post office and shipped a soap order to Washington. After that, my work for the day was complete.

View from the beautiful Tom Sawyer steam boat

 I spent five hours at Disneyland, and got to go on almost everything! It's a good thing I dressed warmly and brought an umbrella.  Lula slept quietly in the car. She's such a relaxed traveler. Disneyland also has a dog kennel! More tomorrow;  I have to do yoga.  Have you ever been to Disneyland?

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90 Sales On Etsy

Ojai clouds and mountains

On Sunday I hit my goal of ninety sales in my Etsy shop, pinkcottagesoaps.etsy.com. It was very rewarding. Now I will shoot for a hundred. It's hard to believe that my little home based business has grown and developed so quickly.  I started it after having my hips replaced. I had always wanted a mail order business, especially after closing my dance and yoga studio.  I find it so much easier to work from home. You don't have to worry about paying business rent and all of those other expenses.  I just listed a couple of new batches of soap. The Shea Butter Goat's Milk and Coconut Dream soaps have finished curing.  I need to pick up some macadamia nut oil and coconut milk at Sprouts so that I can make more Shampoo Bars. I am sold out of them. I bought the avocado oil for that recipe at Costco yesterday. I paid for it separately, with my business debit card.  

Short rows on Stockholm Sweater

I am completing the pair of blue ribbed  hand knit socks today. Tomorrow I will  focus on the Stockholm Sweater. This is what I have so far...isn't the yarn  gorgeous?  All of the ladies in class were knitting it in different colors. The shades were just divine! I want to make one in purple. It's so lovely. I am happy with my choice of color, though. For some reason, knitting with other women seems to trigger yarn envy.  I mean it  in a positive way, though. It's more like admiration. We were oohing and aahing at each others' work.

Huge orange trees near the highway

I'm cooking a rack of lamb and  baked potatoes for dinner. I made a spinach salad earlier for lunch. I will season the lamb with fresh rosemary, garlic, salt, and pepper. It should be  delicious; I love lamb.  I spent a huge amount of money at Costco yesterday, but stayed in my monthly budget. I will need to buy very little for the rest of March. I like to have a full fridge and pantry. It gives me a feeling of security.

Ojai Spanish casita

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A Charming Stone Cottage

Yesterday Lula and I took a stroll  through Ojai after my knitting class. I spotted some lovely cottages. This one was one of my favorites. Everywhere we looked  people were walking their dogs. They all smiled and waved.   I felt so at home. There's such a friendly vibe there. One man was riding a bicycle carrying an umbrella. There are a lot of older hippies. It makes me chuckle.

I met a woman from Saudi Arabia at the local cafe. She and her daughter were looking for a table, so I offered them mine. We had a pleasant conversation. She asked me what I did, and I told her that I used to dance professionally. "Now I write," I added.  She smiled and nodded.  "Everyone in Ojai is an artist," she told me.

You can see the creative energy everywhere. This town has so much style. The homes and shops are brimming with personality. I just love it.

Even the street signs are handmade and original. One of the ladies I was chatting with at the knitting shop told me, "This is how Malibu used to be." She owns a home there. Ojai  really does have a special charm.

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Sweet Little Bicycle Shop

Today Lula and I drove up to Ojai for my knitting class. We learned how to do a special short row technique for the Stockholm Sweater. I really enjoyed it. It's exciting to learn new things. At first I felt blocked and nervous. Once I relaxed and watched some of the other knitters, I got the hang of it. It's a lot of fun. We are all using the same yarn, but in different colors. The shades are just gorgeous! They look like jewels.

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