Recipe: cold pressed coffee

So cold pressed coffee is a big deal in our house, but at 4 to 6 bucks for about 12 oz. it wasn't purchased often. So for hubby's birthday I decided to figure out how to make it, and it's really pretty easy once you get a method down.

1. Double layer cheese cloth cut in a big circle. This one is damp, and coffee stained- I wash and reuse it because I make a new pitcher every 2 to 3 days:

2. Grind coffee coarsely.. And heap in the center of your cheese cloth. I used about 1/3 bag beans (and at $6 per bag I can get about a gallon and a half out of it, so a buck a quart) a good ratio seems to be 1 part coffee to 3 or 4 parts water:

(We dig Peet's but any works. If you have preground it's okay too but might filter through the cheesecloth a bit)

3. Now gather it up around the edges like a bag, and use a rubber and to secure the top. I've used kitchen twine but it's a pain to tie up:

4. Place bag in a pitcher, and cover with ice:

( see it's there at the bottom :)

5. Fill with filtered tap water:

6. Let it sit out till the ice melts then throw it in the fridge. Let it steep about 36 hours. We tested steep times and our tastes ran to the 36 hour steep- but try it out at 18 to 48 hours to see what you like. We pour it into ball jars so he can grab and go to work, or into a lidded pitcher, etc.:

If you get sediment from too small a grind on the coffee, you can use a regular coffee filter inside a sieve or fold the sides together so you can hold it over your pitcher/cups. 

And enjoy cold! 

Note: I use the post steep coffee grounds in my garden. 

I also discovered that you can use a ball jar, lidded cup or whatever you like that won't spill and some empty tea bags ( like $2 for 100) and fill them up with coffee for individual servings. Steep 24 to 36 hours in the fridge. Pre ground works great here.. I use these a lot with my teas too. They do make re-usable but mine are compostable and disposable, so that's what I do:

Coat rack built in: notes (updated)

Planning to build a built in coat rack/shoe rack combo behind the front door. stain it Bombay mahogany to match the other stuff we're doing. 

Update: half the the rack done. Decided to separate it into two sections a tall shoe rack and a a coat hanger/shelf. I've finished the rack.. 

Now on to the coat rack. 

Fence replace/upgrade notes

I need for custom fence pieces 8 to 15 pickets, 2 - 2x4s, 4 side brackets at 1.50 each, screws, nails, and a package of L brackets at $3 each. 

5/8" x 5 1/2" x 6' Fence individual Pickets are $1.94

2x4 (treated)

These too look possible, is simple. I could cut them down if needed. 

I kind of hesitate to switch now, because we started one way, doing it custom. But keepers it would make life sooo much easier :(

Lowes has this nifty fence door/gate for $41.. Would need 3, or 4 if we add a gate in back

  

But this is also an option, depending on size. It is a more expensive option though:

Also looking at post caps: 

Plain for most of them.. 

But there are cool solar ones I want for the garden space. 

These are my favorites.. 

Halloween: skull wreath

This year we hit up the dollar store to make an LED skull and web wreath.. Super easy. 

8 LED foam skulls

1 metal edged spider web

Duct tape

Sewing pins

Removed big plastic spider from the web. Ick. 

I taped the skulls equidistant around the web, and anchored the tape with sewing pins (nothing wants to stick to glitter coated skulls very well) 

And done. Thought about adding ribbon or raffia, but I like this plain and simple. 

I will probably go back and add some super glue under the tape though. Love to super glue lol

Here's lights on first 

 then lights out, LED on (they strobe different colors)

We're going to hang it outside on Halloween for trick or treating :)