Weight training, bringing in the potato harvest, quiche and glorious dyes

Today started with a weight training and balance video,  which I really like, because balance is better than falling. Usual teachers, April and Aiko

Then there was a walk, cheery greetings from neighbors. My Chinese neighbors always wave even when they're two feet away on the sidewalk, I love it.

Then home to find Gary lugging stuff about. I think gardening should be renamed carrying, but anyway. I was observing that I had one potato total from two containers. Then he remembered he had two containers, so we tipped them out to see.

This is our total harvest, presented to me, and steamed with carrots. He declined any. Just likes growing them, not eating them.

And I made mint sauce, fresh picked peppermint minced, pinch of sugar, malt vinegar, the way my auntie Annie taught me as a kid. Just making it reminded me of her.

Then lunch with a spicy sausage fritter, butter melting over the potatoes. More for tomorrow, too.

I'm reading The Ellerie County Funeral Ladies, very warm friendly reading, located in rural Wisconsin. I like reading about it more than living there.

Later I made a leek and spinach quiche 

Crustfree, using just the green part of the leeks. I've got other plans for the white sections.

Then this afternoon was a presentation on natural dyeing of Anatolia, where the slides are self explanatory, so I'll just show you. It's a feast! For people who know a bit about natural dyeing, no news here, but it was still great to let it flow.

Here's the magic moment when the greenish yarn emerges from the indigo dye bath and the oxygen turns it blue

Arsenic makes a lovely green, but it's hazardous for the dyer and maybe wearer too.

This was a great lecture. The host commented that they've had so many questions over the years about the technicalities of antique textiles when collectors present, that they thought they'd get a great technician in dyeing history and processes, to talk. Behind him is a kilim, rug, the yarn for which he dyed. 

Isn't it great just to wander about these colors and mixes and history. 

Happy day, everyone, they can't take this away from us.