You are the initiators of the zodiac. Dashing hither and yon (you are always in a hurry),you rush fearlessly ahead with little regard for your own safety. You like to be first in all that you do, and you are happiest when sharing your new discoveries with your friends. Willing to begin conversations with total strangers, you usually have many friends.
The Ram
Ruling planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Quality: Assertiveness
Ability: Leadership
Source: Old Farmer's Almanac, almanac.com
Written by Julia for Free People, Bldg 25
Enchanted Rock State Park, Texas Hill Country
About an hour and a half west of Austin, there stands an enormous pink granite dome. Located in the Llano uplift, Enchanted Rock is only 24 miles south of our home, Llano, Texas. We travel to E-Rock numerous times a year to hike the summit and loop trails. (A local tip: check out the less-traveled Turkey Pass Trail) At its highest point, Enchanted Rock is 1825 ft above sea level. Hike to the top for a beautiful view of the surrounding area.
"There are a number of legends surrounding the rock – native tribes from the area spoke of its spiritual powers, and some even believed it to be a portal to other worlds. According to one legend, if you spend the night on the rock, you become invisible. Others believe it is haunted by ancient spirits who light fires on its peak at night. Whether you believe these legends or not, there is no denying that there is something magical about this place."
You are the romantic dreamers of the zodiac. You have the ability to visit the Muses and bring back a fine creativity. Unlike the other signs of the zodiac, you possess no singular energy of your own; rather, you are a combination of all of the signs. Because you have an overwhelming desire to merge consciously or unconsciously, you intuit what others need from you and you act accordingly. The compassion and understanding that is your ultimate gift can sometimes be problematic until you have learned how to define yourself.
The Fish
Ruling planet: Neptune
Element: Water
Quality: Creativity
Ability: Understanding
Source: The Old Farmer's Almanac, almanac.com
Dallas & Fort Worth, Texas
Taco Diner is a must-stop whenever we head north. Order one of their award-winning frozen margaritas, or our favorite - an Arnold Palmer (half tea, half lemonade) and the "De Brisket" tacos. The folks over at Taco Diner know how to do it - they've been around since 1998 and currently have 6 locations in the DFW area. The food is inspired by the street taquerias of Mexico City, and is muy bueno!
We're big t-shirt lovers around here, as you may assume, and we've got lots of old t-shirts to upcycle! This is the perfect project for a rainy or cold weekend, as it does take some time and patience.
You'll Need:
A variety of jersey t-shirts and/or tank tops
Scissors
Rotary cutter (optional)
Step 1 Cut your t-shirts into 1.5″ strips along the width of the body. This goes much quicker if you have a rotary cutter. You’ll want to cut the end of each of them so they’re strands and not loops of fabric.
Step 2 Gather three strips and stack them. Tie a knot tightly into the top to begin.
Step 3 Start braiding the strips.
Step 4 Once you’ve braided about 4″ of the strips, coil the braid into a circle as shown above, with the knot in the center.
Step 5 Take the strand closest to the center and pass it under and through one of the loops in the braid you coiled. This is how you will attach the braid to the coil.
Step 6 Continue your braid another few inches. It should be attached to the center coil where you passed the one strand through.
Step 7 Every few inches, pass the strand closest to the center under and through the existing braid to attach it. You’ll do this continuously to create the entire rug! Braid and attach, braid and attach.
To add strips:
When you reach the end of the strip, you’ll want to attach another. Instead of making a bunch of knots, here is how you can quickly attach the next strand:
Step 1 Fold over the very end of the attached strand and cut a small slit into the center. Do the same with your new strand.
Step 2 Line up the two slits you cut on both strands as shown in photo 2.
Step 3 Take the other end of the new strand and pull it through the back of the slits towards the front.
Step 4 Pull both strands tightly and they will be linked together.
The rug will tend to bunch up as you go along. To flatten it, spritz it with a spray water bottle and use your hands to push it back into shape. You can place some heavy objects on it to hold it down while you braid if you need to.
To finish the backing of the rug so it stays in place, iron on some fusible interfacing to the reverse side. You can also finish it with starch or Polycrylic spray as a protective measure.
