I got a ride this afternoon, to the food pantry to drop off canned goods before their next distribution, then to the library to return DVDs and donate a book, then upstairs for a brief reunion with my knitting buds.
The last bit was great, and I got useful ideas for my basket. Beads? A lid? A handle? All noted. And gave a rapid tutorial to a new member, on how to make cordage. Lucets came up, too, the spinner of the group having tried it but not with a lot of success.
I also got renewed offers of rides, which will be great because the knitters are there as long as we need to meet. Today's visit was limited by my needing to let my ride get on with her afternoon. But it will be too cool to get back.
And interesting food has happened. Oatmeal wraps for lunches. These are fun to make, like clay time in preschool.
All rolled up and a bit artisanal. One cup of oatmeal, one of water, pinch of salt, makes half a dozen wraps. I'm definitely doing this again, with various flours, same recipe.
The flatbread is flexible and wraps fine, so I have many ideas now about fillings.
The thing is that it's not as quick as the YouTube cooks would have you believe. This one is "five minutes".
I wonder which five. The dough prep five, the cutting and rolling out five, the time each takes to cook five, the filling and rolling up five? They're nice and I have several lunches now, but why fib about how long? If people like to cook, they don't mind knowing the actual time needed.
Tuesday's garden, despite massive overnight rain and thunderstorms, serious flooding north of here, major highways closed, was perfectly happy. The lavender had fallen over, but other plants were unworried, even budding out.
First zinnia flower, yay. Not many flowers get the loud greetings that mine do. And happy dances.
Gary was having phone issues before he left, new phone, unable to get contents and contacts from old dead phone, packed with pictures and videos, serious user. Then Monday night he called to check in then Tuesday texted this
That's Billie in front. So clearly Gary's back in phone business. I texted back catalpa, before looking it up, such a smart approach, ready, fire, aim.
Textiles and Tea Tuesday featured Nicole Yi Messier, who with her collaborator Victoria Manganiello, is an artistic powerhouse, working at the intersection of fiber arts, fiber optics and sound. She teaches at NYU and Parsons, and is the tech brain in the weaving/tech partnership in which Victoria is the weaving driver. Their work has been exhibited in many venues, more to come.
Her works use LED fiberoptics, which respond to the movement of the people viewing them. One large installation is called Signal to Noise. Here the concept of seeing noise as interrupting the signal is changed into seeing the noise as a signal in itself. Like the shakuhachi concept, where everything is life, not an interruption of life.
She's a great teacher, patiently explaining the concepts and intentions of the art, and you might want to go to her website to learn more.
I won't be trying the oatmeal wraps, I just cook the stuff and eat it for breakfast, with chopped dried fruits cooked into it. Apricots and Dates.
ReplyDeleteOatmeal is so versatile. I use it in bread, and crumbles, now wraps. It's easy to turn it into flour, too.
DeleteWhat fascinating fiber optic works! The things I learn here!
ReplyDeleteIt was hard even to grasp what they'd made, let alone the thought processes. Definitely on another plane.
DeleteIt's good to know that there are plenty of offers to drive you about. Good deeds reap good rewards.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice that I can spread my requests around. I feel less like I'm imposing. But I'm finding people really want to be called on.
DeleteYou had a jam-packed Tuesday alright!
ReplyDeleteThey're usually eventful, this one more than usual.
DeleteGood that you have rides. You had a jam packed day!
ReplyDeleteAs you know, it's a blessing to have generous friends.
DeleteI like how you celebrate each bloom! Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteIt's the result of having only a few. They're all individuals. I'm almost naming them!
DeleteI'm guessing it's the five-minute cooking time they're talking about, but who knows?!
ReplyDeleteThat was my guess, too. I really prefer the grownup cooks like Will Yeung and Spain on a Fork, no fake excitement, just tthe facts.
Deletel enjoyed thinking about making oatmeal wraps. Not sure I'd actually ever make them though. Anything that uses a pan when I can skip it and not have to wash it, is probably my go-to. But I do like to eat wraps for sandwiches, so I'll keep it in mind for when that mood might come my way!
ReplyDeleteThat's a plan! This recipe doesn't need to wash the pan. Just wipe with a dry cloth. Maybe wraps are something you're glad someone else made!
DeleteWow! This is a fabulous post. Your garden looks amazing. Sometimes the rain is all it takes. Have a great day today.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I always have so much to say and share and show, it amazes me when people run out of material and start repeating old posts. But, different strokes.
DeleteNow that you have found the availability of rides you may not need to use a car yourself. You have a solid group of people around you. I like this art a lot. Interesting concept.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking about the car, and haven't felt deprived. Ready end of next week maybe, if they get the parts.
DeleteA lot accomplished on Tuesday, Boud. Hope today is just as lovely!
ReplyDeleteWednesday involves recovering from Tuesday. It's nice, with an evening online meeting with friends.
DeleteGlad you get all the errands done and made it to the knitting group!
ReplyDeleteI've never even heard of the name of that tree--lol!
Fiber optic art, too. You are a font of knowledge.
Was a good Tuesday indeed. :)
It was a great day. Most Tuesdays are.
DeleteWell done on the catalpa ID. Those seed pods definitely resemble string beans. I too love the flower announcements, and yay for the morning glory! They're so sculptural in bud.
ReplyDeleteThat fiber optics work is truly fiber! It seems a good match for you, with your computer and textile history. It's incomprehensible to me; will have to check out her website for more explanation.
Never thought of oatmeal wraps. Oatmeal is infinitely versatile, and that's a use I hadn't thought of.
Glad you're discovering the wide world of rides with friends. People do like to help out, especially with good neighbors like you.
Chris from Boise
Do check further into that artist. It's difficult even to grasp what she's doing, but worth trying.
ReplyDeleteSince the car is out of commission at least a week more, I'm getting an intro to rides. It's not bad!
If you try the wraps, be aware they take longer than anyone admits. But I like them.
The morning glories are getting going, never had them flower on this patio before. And now I'm hopeful for self seeding.
Your above comment is making the me from (OMG that long?) 29 years ago squirm, as I enjoyed the Morning Glories and left them untended and they took over the whole of my back yard and possibly world domination.
ReplyDeleteIn our climate the severe winter cold completely stops them. Unless they can be persuaded to reseed, they're an annual. In fact the blue ones never reseed. So we can't get into your trouble. In some states they're banned as a rapid growing pest plant. But you probably didn't know that your climate loves them.
DeleteI'm with you on these recipes that take "only five minutes". I think they're like the NYT recipes where all the chopping and mixing has been done by "helpers" and so all the majordomo has to do is throw it together in a pan and turn the heat on. I have learned to ignore the time notices in the recipes and figure out what I can do, then decide whether to try or discard the recipe. Oh, and you have to put in shopping time for the bizarre ingredients you probably will only use once. Grrrr! Do I sound like a grouchy old man?
ReplyDeleteYou sound like me when I study the recipe and add up the couple of minuteses!
DeleteIt's lovely that you have so many people ready to give rides when needed. That all sounded really nice, your get together with everyone. I like the idea of the oatmeal wraps. Thanks for the recipe. Nice to see your flowers thriving. Thanks for a very enjoyable read and I hope the rest of your week goes well.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome for the wrap idea. And have a good week.
Delete"Here the concept of seeing noise as interrupting the signal is changed into seeing the noise as a signal in itself."
ReplyDeleteExactly. Technically, there's no difference between "sound" and "noise". It all depends on your expectations.
Yes, expectations figure into it, and acceptance of a reality that isn't the one you thought you were dealing with.
DeleteOatmeal wraps are something that is new to me. Love all your photos.
ReplyDeleteNew to me, too, worth a try.
Delete