Gardening Begins … kind of

Are you guys gardening yet? We already ordered our WaterSorb so we’re ready to start rototilling … but the soil’s going to be too wet for another couple of weeks. I’m sure that others are ready to start, though, because we left ours pretty much just “to stand” over winter (and harvested the last of the beets and carrots a couple weeks ago), so we had plenty of cover to keep the ground moist. Our friend (in whose yard we garden) did a rough till last week with his tractor, just to knock down the tall stuff, though, so there’s hope that it’ll dry out before midsummer.

We need to order from Kitizawa Seed for our Kabochas soon … I’ll probably take care of that today. We’ve found that Kabocha Squash makes a far better pumpkin pie than any other pumpkins, but the problem now is in choosing, because until I checked Kitizawa I was somehow thinking that there were, oh, maybe two kinds of Kabocha. No such luck. There are 12 varieties on Kitizawa’s site, so it’s either going to be a squash-filled gardening season, or we’re going to have to make some hard choices. Fortunately for us, our CSA will, no doubt, provide us with Delica (green) and Uchiki Kuri (red). Our trouble will be in deciding which of the other 10 varieties we should grow.

Next up, of course, will be the choosing of tomatoes. We are going to attempt some restraint this year, as we’re still not through with last year’s: some are in the freezer, awaiting pasta or something; more are in zips, dried, awaiting breads and pestos. However, when we get to Morning Sun Herb Farm, we usually find at least 6 different varieties right away, and a bit of wandering brings us a few more. Last year, thanks to the gophers, we “only” ended up with 7 plants. This year … I think we’re going to try for 6 plants. Only. No “fallbacks,” no “spares,” no “just in case the gophers get them.” We’ll see.

And, surprisingly, tomatoes and squash about does it for what we’d like out of the garden this year, except for an Armenian Cucumber and, perhaps, a couple of Ronde de Nice zucchini. And that’s it. Except for the things we have to grow in the way of “rent” for the garden space, that is: okra and collard greens.

It’s strange to think that we may have finally gotten our gardening under control. We’ll see – because we usually give ourselves these stern talking-tos – but I think that we may finally be learning that if you can’t eat it all, and if it makes it difficult to harvest, then you probably don’t need to grow it. And we especially don’t need to grow things which can’t be preserved easily, and which we don’t eat ordinarily. Eggplant falls into that category – the category of “one plant, maybe, if there’s room, and if the plant is free.”

That’s the problem, actually: the majority of our plants tend to be free, because other gardeners (soft-hearted lot that they are) have planted, intending to “thin,” and end up simply giving away their seedlings. So, they look at us, and we must have “sucker” writ large across our foreheads, because we end up with all manner of things to plant, unless we want to kill them off. So of course we plant them. And water them. And buy replacements when they get eaten by the gopher, because we can’t bear the empty spot where once was a plant.

Let the chaos begin.

Kitizawa Seed: kitazawaseed.com/
Find a CSA: localharvest.org/csa/
Riverdog Farm (our CSA): riverdogfarm.com/
Morning Sun Herb Farm: morningsunherbfarm.com/

Quick update: I made our purchase from Kitizawa, and can expect delivery in a couple of days. I guess I’m weak … ’cause I really couldn’t resist:

  • Akehime, Hybrid Winter Squash, Baby Kabocha
  • Sweet Mama, Hybrid Winter Squash, Bush Type Kabocha
  • Fairy, Hybrid Winter Squash
  • Armenian Cucumber
  • Prik Ki Nue Rai-Thai Hot Pepper
  • All Red Leaf Amaranth
  • Red Noodle Yard Long Bean
  • Tsu In Yard Long Bean
  • Nozawana Turnip Green
  • Celtuce (Stem Lettuce)
  • Atomic Red Carrot
  • Cosmic Purple Carrot

So, I really am going to stop. No more purchases. Except for the Collards, and the Tomatoes. Really. Honest.

Heart still beating…

Just, you know, in case you wondered, “I Aten’t Dead”, merely occupied with all of the chaos:

  • One business contract ended, so there’s all the wrapup
  • Looking for a new contract
  • STILL with the remodel – no, there’s no major update, really, except that … it’s going.
  • I find that I really hate Branching Out, so I haven’t knit a stitch in weeks!
  • Photo Uploading is on hold until the art closet gets storage (everything’s boxed)

So, in essence, everything’s up in the air right now.

On the brighter side, though, there’s an end in sight for all of these things, and we’re thinking of places to go when we’re done with all of this … or, rather, when we feel like going, ’cause there are so many things lined up that we’ll never be “done,” if we’re honest about it.

The first place we’re thinking is to do a bicycle tour of Scotland. Nothing too terribly strenuous, but … well, something quite active, too, ’cause some of those tours involve all of about 20 miles between towns, and that’s got to be maybe two hour’s ride if there are hills involved. So, something strenuous. Virtuous. Yet still something which will allow us to see the beauty of Scotland and of Cathedrals / Castles & things.

After that, we’re saying that we’re going to Argentina. I went to school there when I was 13 years old, and feel that I deserve to recoup my lost Summer (I spent what should have been Summer Vacation in Argentina … for their Winter!). It should be different, if nothing else, but also gives me an excuse to try to jump on the bandwagon and learn Welsh: there are quite a few Welsh speakers in Patagonia, apparently.

So, those are the dreams, which are blossoming amongst all of the chaos.

Everything’s Just Ducky

The weather’s just dandy, ducks!

I still can’t believe that this duck pattern is so simple, but I’m looking at the instructions, and I’ve got the googly eyes, so I guess I’m going to give it a go.

Happy Pesach, Good Friday, Spring & Weekend to Everybody. Now that I am actively trying to…reduce (grump, grump, GRUMP!), I have to be a bit less… er, social, which means no more swanning around from house to house chatting up friends and relatives and indulging in whatever little Cadbury bits people bestow upon me (around this time of year, it’s just as well — I mean, marshmallow PEEPS! UGH! Not that it stopped me from eating them, sadly.). However, I shall still come bearing gifts when I do pop by — and what better time of year than to bring macaroons?

Macaroons are a traditional cookie during Passover for Jewish families because they follow kosher laws – they contain no wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt that take more than 18 minutes to cook completely (after coming in contact with water), and no leavening. The recipe I found is for almond macaroons, which is traditional, or you can use Mac’s ultra-healthy, chewy coconut/okara macaroons. (Even if you don’t have okara, those are quite tasty!)

ALMOND MACAROONS

2 cups almonds (1 1/2 cups ground)

1 cup xylitol (or sucanat or white sugar)

Zest of 1 large lemon

3 egg whites

Canola oil cooking spray

A blender

A mixer

FIRST, Preheat oven to 275.

NEXT, Line a cookie sheet with heavy duty foil and spray with canola oil.

* In a covered blender, chop up the almonds half at a time until finely ground.

* In a bowl, beat the egg whites with a mixer until they form soft peaks.

* Add the lemon zest.

* Gradually add the Sucanat and beat until the whites are very stiff and shiny but not dry.

* Fold in the ground almonds.

* Take spoonfuls and drop onto the cookie sheet about 1 – 1 1/2 inches apart.

* Bake for 20 – 30 minutes, or until edges are hard, but the middle is still soft and golden.

* After 5 minutes, carefully place the foil with the baked macaroons on a cookie sheet to cool.

These are a bit like sugar cookies – the almonds, when finely ground, look a little like raw, browned sugar. A dip in chocolate, and they’re even better! And speaking of a chocolaty – and still healthyish – macaroon alternative, try:

Chocolate-Coconut Macaroons

* 3 cups unsweetened coconut, lightly packed

* 1/4 cup cocoa

* 1 cup sugar

* 2 tbsp. matzah cake meal or potato starch

* 4 egg whites, room temperature

* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or orange (or lemon or pineapple) juice

* 1/4 cup honey

FIRST, preheat the oven to 325 F. Place parchment or nonstick baking sheets.

Place coconut, cocoa, sugar, and matzah meal in food processor bowl. Pulse until coconut is finely ground, about 10 seconds. Add egg whites, vanilla and honey. Process until everything is well mixed, about 10 seconds.

Spoon well-rounded teaspoonful of mixture onto baking sheets, leaving 1 inch between cookies. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, until dull and no beads of moisture show. Using a metal spatula, carefully remove from parchment onto racks to cool. Makes about 32 cookies.

Be sure and have some handy storage for these – they’ll last a couple of weeks in an airtight tin. Cheers!

Upstairs flooring complete … er … almost.

Thus continues the saga of the remodel. Shown here is what we found when we peeled the carpet back in the office. Note the years of water damage? Note the fresh puddle? It hasn’t rained in about a week, but this puddle was still wet to the touch. We figure that it’s some small leak, running down the wall from the attic, and is going to be a joy to track down. ‘Cause really, how do you find the source for such things unless it’s raining? We contacted our condo association, so we’ll see what happens.

At long last, though, the upstairs is done with the exception of the stairs and banister. There had been a storage cabinet, bolted to the floor, to which the banister was bolted (you can see the original paint color on the wall where it had been for the past 35 years). We tore it out, though, to give ourselves more space, and because the thing was truly ugly and tended to catch whatever was in our hands when we came upstairs. So, as soon as our builder can figure out how to make things match up, we’ll have a nice open landing. I’m helping by actually buying a real router, instead of the stupid RotoZip thing he uses, so that he can actually make edges which lock together, instead of relying on glue or something.

Out of this whole process, we’ve learned several things. First off, we’ve learned that time is a very very flexible thing: 10:00 to a builder may mean noon, or maybe tomorrow. We’ve also learned that any estimate as to when something will be done is just hot air – we’ve taken to packing everything away as if it’s going to have to sit there for several weeks, because it most likely will have to sit for several weeks. Lastly we’ve resolved to never live in a place while it’s being remodeled; it’s simply not worth the dusting, shifting, and misery of having to share space.

The end is in sight, but we’re trying not to get our hopes up, as we know they’ll just be dashed. After all, this is now month three of what was to have been a one month project.

Of course, this is just the flooring and the kitchen. To be done after all of the flooring downstairs is 1) the bathroom (and we know there’ve been leaks from the tub, so that’s a big job), 2) a new heater / air conditioner (the one we’ve got has been retro-fitted with a new burner, but is 35 years old, and just as efficient), 3) a ladder to the attic and rough flooring of the attic (there’s a full attic, but you can’t get in unless you get a ladder), 3) painting of various walls. So, I’d guess we’re more than halfway through, when it all comes down to it, but we’ve still got some more to go.

Then there’s the organizing of the Art Closet. That’s on the agenda for today, but … well, we’ll see.

The Yarn that Would Not Die

In response to Jackie, who asked me what yarn & size needles I’d used for my orange scarf, I’m using a US Size 6 needle, with the same worsted-weight microfiber I’ve been trying to get rid of for ages! It’s Lyon Brand, “micro-spun,” described as “an ultrasoft microfiber sports yarn.” I bought 6 skeins of it & it’s taking forever to go through! I managed to get two full-sized hats out of the yellow bit ( #1, #2 ), this scarf as well as an Orange Hat from the orange balls, with some left over, and to get a hat and scarf out of the blue ones.

I’ve started some of them on smaller needles, or have taken them to size 7 needles, depending on what I’ve got available (and not tied up in some other project). I’m currently doing Branching Out with the rest of the orange yarn, and will hopefully manage to finish it sometime soon, although I’ve only done about 2.5 repetitions of the pattern so far.

Orange.2.Purl.Front
Yellow.1.Purl.Top
Yellow.2.Knit.Top.2 Blue Hat and Scarf 1, Knit 01
Blue Hat and Scarf 1, Knit 03 Orange Scarf 1.01

Soothe The Cells

This straight needle in the round technique is confusing, so I will explain it.

CO # of sts (It works with any # of sts) using the temporary cast on.
K 1, slip 1 as if to purl wyb, rep across row
Repeat for all rows and you will get a tube on the straight needle. Separate on to two other needles the same size, alternating the sts, and bind off.

You can also P1, slip 1 wyf. It is, as I said, not the best for decreased hats, but good for rectangle hats, as it is joined at the beginning, or for making bags. This is the book I got it from-
Donna Kooler’s Encyclopedia of Knitting

Itchy Brain cells?

I have recently endeavored on a dangerous knitting quest that is sure to make any one’s brain ache for days on end: Knitting in the round on single point, straight needles. If that doesn’t confuse you, which means you know how to do it already, I don’t know what will or what you don’t know in this realm. I’ve started a hat with this technique and will inform you later.

Week… end. (Please! I beg of you)

Some day/When I’m awf’ly low/ And the world is cold/I will feel a glow just thinking of you…

Yeah, you thought it was the way you looked tonight. Nope. It’s food again. Sorry to all the romantics out there, but by this point in the week, I can’t even see you, much less think of you when everything is going to the pot.

I thought I should blog about Baking Powder Biscuits this last week when I woke up and realized we hadn’t steamed the breakfast grains (sigh!) and so we would either need to wait an additional hour to eat, or I’d have to come up with something quickly. I wish I’d taken pictures of the first biscuits – they were elegant looking and had that effortless perfection that you only really achieve when you’re not setting up a stupid photo shot and trying desperately to get your food to cooperate. At any rate, when the world has all gone to hell, and you’ve had a bad night, or are without options for a quick breakfast, plain old drop biscuits are just very nice. For those playing along in the UK… they’re… um, muffins? Savoury scones? Who knows. We called them tea cakes if a bit of vanilla and sweetener was added and they were neatly rolled, but they’re basically

Whole Wheat Baking Powder Drop Biscuits,

(and this is BASIC recipe:)

* 1 cup whole wheat flour

* 1 cup all-purpose flour

* 1 tablespoon baking powder

* 1 teaspoon salt

* 1/4 cup canola or olive oil

* 3/4 cup unsweetened soy milk

(Perambulation: Now, I’ve said “basic,” which means that there are infinite variations. For instance, instead of the two cups of flour, I substitute four rye crackers, crumpled up, which about equals a cup. Once I added a cup of tortilla crumbs. It depends on how you’ll use them in your meal. I rarely add a full quarter cup of oil, either. I prefer drier biscuits, so I use about two tablespoons. I also use very cold water in place of soy milk, but that’s just me.)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F (220°C).

2. Stir together the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Combine the oil and soy milk in a measuring cup. Pour into the dry ingredients all at once, and stir just until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto a baking sheet.

3. Bake for 8 to10 minutes in the preheated oven, until the biscuits are browned on the top and bottom.

Further Perambulation: One thing to remember is that less stirring with biscuits is …more. They’re not meant to have a hugely built-up gluten in them, or they will get quite …rocklike. So just put your ingredients in, mix up the drys dry, and then, once you add your liquid, keep your wooden spoon stirring to the bare minimum it takes to get the ingredients all combined.

And don’t be afraid to experiment more. These can be made savory with various onion powders, 1/4 c. of low moisture shredded cheese, or black pepper, or made sweet with various spices and 2 tbsp. of sugar. Find your own bliss!

So, here’s the finished product. I put pretzel salt on a couple of them for the guy who likes to think everything is a big pretzel… and, as I said, these weren’t the prettiest, because I didn’t use unbleached flour, but whole wheat and rye. But they were moist, tasty, and light.

When you feel like everything you touch in the kitchen is turning to sawdust and ashes, you can still make baking powder drop biscuits. use them to top a quick potpie or to accompany soup and salad. Slather them with jam and margarine or top with strawberries for a shortcake type dessert. They’re easy and make you feel like you’re somewhat kitchen-capable again. At least it works for me.

Orange Laciness

Finally finished the Orange Scarf … about a week ago, I guess. Only just now am I realizing that I never blogged about it. So, here it is, in all of its strangely shifting pattern. Basically, I started out doing every right-side row as Snakeskin*, which is what you see at the top of the picture. From there, I shifted to doing Chevrons**, and from Chevrons, did Reverse Chevrons for a couple of repeats (just read the pattern backwards), and then went to doing Horseshoes***. And, finally, finished up with a few more rows of Snakeskin.

Basically, this scarf was to play with the idea of lacemaking, and to see how well I could adapt. I’ve found that it’s OK, but does require more concentration than I’m used to. I’ve now started on Branching Out, but … well, I’ve done two repeats of the pattern & have found that it interferes with anything else, like talking, watching tv, or whatever I used to be able to do while knitting. It’s probably going to work out better when I’m more comfortable with the terminology, and stop having to look at my cheat sheet to figure out what the abbreviations mean. But, until then, it’s going to be a matter of concentration.

I’m also thinking that I need to organize the pattern a bit, ’cause there’re no handy stopping points: I can look about 5 stitches in my head, and lose it after that, so I need to organize the pattern in groups of 5 stitches or something. We’ll see. It at least needs to have a “middle” so that I don’t have to rip back a whole row at a time. Sigh.

*Snakeskin:


Odds: Sl1, K1, K2TogTBL, K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, K2Tog, K2
Even: Sl1, K1, K11, K2

**Chevrons:


1:  K2Tog TBL, K5, YO, K1,  YO, K5, K2Tog
3:  K2Tog TBL, K4, YO, K3,  YO, K4, K2Tog
5:  K2Tog TBL, K3, YO, K5,  YO, K3, K2Tog
7:  K2Tog TBL, K2, YO, K7,  YO, K2, K2Tog
9:  K2Tog TBL, K1, YO, K9,  YO, K1, K2Tog
11: K2Tog TBL,   , YO, K11, YO,   , K2Tog

Evens: Purl

***Horseshoes:


1: Sl1, K2, YO, K3, Sl1, K2Tog, PSSO, K3, YO, K3
3: Sl1, K3, YO, K2, Sl1, K2Tog, PSSO, K2, YO, K4
5: Sl1, K4, YO, K1, Sl1, K2Tog, PSSO, K1, YO, K5
7: Sl1, K5, YO,   , Sl1, K2Tog, PSSO,   , YO, K6

Evens: Sl1, K1, P11, K2

One last thing: if you’ve got a Laser Level sitting around the house? When blocking out a scarf, it’s the perfect thing to keep those long edges straight! I’ve done two scarves with the laser level now, and it’s marvelous! I just set it on a book or something & aim it down the row of where I want to pin, and then everything works out. So long as the ends are relatively equally spaced (pin out both ends first, in other words, so you’ve got two equally spaced starting points), you’re good. Doesn’t help the middle to be straight, but it sure helps the edges, and to make sure you’ve somewhat even tension throughout the piece when it’s left to dry.

String Bikinis and Dyeing for Some Color

“There are one or two things too creepy to think about. One creepy thing is yarn and …personal areas.” – Mac

In the category of Just Wrong:

Noo Yawk knitter/book-blogger friend Bookshelves O’ Doom gave me the biggest chuckle of the day with this …creative use of knitwear. Due to Mr. Blinkey’s tender years, I won’t post the pictures, but OY, there are some things one doesn’t want to see happen with yarn. Just. Don’t. Want. To. (Shudder!)

In the category of Just So Cool:

Sumer Is Icumin In, so color rules the mood. Now is the time that the world flees in terror of my tights… this year I’ve decided to order “blanks,” which are, in the fabric arts world, black or white clothing to dye and embellish at will. Since I think I’ll be buying mostly cotton gauze, I will be buying regular dyes, but oh! knitters please take note: you can dye your own!

Did you know that Kool-Aid, that noxious drink, can be used as fabric dye? No, not just for great Goth hair. Any “animal” fiber will work – including lovely pure wool, no mordant needed, since Kool-Aid’s acidity is enough. Check out Knitty’s details on the how-to, and have a ball!