Since Marigold got in here, I found a picture, couldn't crop it any further without creating a blur, but here she is as the avatar on an old online account, pretty young here. And I added a picture of her on her last day, aged 16.
And a few images from the same account page, some of which you will recognize
It seems November is gone, and once again I forgot November 30th, St Andrew's Day, name day of Handsome Son. I texted him late with a greeting and it turned out he'd forgotten, too. As he said "Not very Scottish of me!"
December 1 is the first day of the online advent calendar I presented to myself this year and I had a bit of a struggle to get it started, but got in. I did a bit of decorating in my cottage, tried to decorate the tree, and did a jigsaw puzzle, and was baffled by a couple of other games. My brain doesn't process game rules. So far so good.
Monday was in the 30s but sunny, so I walked, in my long winter windproof coat, and it was fine. I met the same dog and human twice
Weaving is moving along and I think I'll do a color pattern in the second lanyard, just to try it. I had set up enough length of warp threads to fit two lanyards, without rewinding. Economy of effort.
Durham Weaver sums up this craft like this

It's very compact, especially when you think of weaving as a major commitment needing big tools and equipment.
Sunday I made one-pan pasta, where you cook the pasta in the sauce, and I think I will do this from now on, so much easier to use one pan. The pasta cooked fine, too.
I added capers, mushrooms and some final green beans from Thanksgiving along with paprika, Italian basil, ground flaxseed, onions and garlic to the usual diced tomatoes and tomato paste.
There's enough for several meals. I may try the tofu for the other meal each day. And I may make those peanut butter granola bars again for breakfasts. All set.
I made crunchy tofu cubes with the lentil tofu. The texture is less resistant than real tofu, there's a nice flavor, quite delicate, and it cut and cubed and baked a treat.
I dipped the cubes in aqua faba instead of egg, then panko crumbs. I'm really pleased. Now I can make tofu from what's in the house, yay. I used a dipping sauce like the one I learned from Yeung Man Cooking. So I'd say go for it!
Happy day everyone, now watch this new month hurtle by.
I've started the December challenge. Mainly by chance, really since I'd done a walk before I found it.
Gary came bursting in Monday afternoon, back days early from his trip. Family bereavement, his 90+ year old sister, and he's the one in charge of the paperwork and running about.
She lived hours away, independent at home to the end, with boxes of paperwork now to sort and to go through. He's looking tired. It's so typical of his life that things would happen all at once, while he was out West.
Condolences to Gary on the loss of his sister. She sounds as interesting in her independence as Gary is with his helpfulness.
ReplyDeleteSo nice to see Marigold's portraits. She was a beaut, and from your other posts has a personality to match. Now I see how the circular saw loom works!
One-pan lasagna was a game-changer for us. I'm still trying to wrap my head around lentil tofu...thanks for the inspiration and report thereon.
Glad you got out for a sunny walk, and the December challenge and advent calendar will keep you on your toes.
Chris from Boise
Marigold was a lovely cat. I found her, dumped and filthy, when she was a tiny kitten. Once she let me catch her, she was set for life.
DeleteI thought the weaving pictures would be explanatory, better than words.
I seem to be the last person converted to one pan pasta, about time.
Is that the JL advent cndar? It's my morning and afternoon coffee time treat. Will now investigate one-pan pasta....
ReplyDeleteYes, I was playing some game last night, finding my elf, changing the slip covers, all that!
DeleteI had a friend years ago who was a chef in an Italian restaurant. At home, he always did one-pan pasta dishes. Lasagna always came out so perfectly aligned that it made me happy. However, I can’t convince San Geraldo to try it.
ReplyDeleteI think home cooks may be more attached to methods than professionals who are into production. There's a nice routine at home, but that's probably a luxury in a restaurant where you do what works. I was surprised at how reluctant I was to switch, but followed Will Yeung's instructions anyway.
DeleteYour lanyard is so beautifully multicoloured!
ReplyDeleteIt's how the yarn is dyed, came out nicely in stripes.
DeleteYou caused me to remember that we no longer do advent calendars now that the grands are older and no longer spend much time with us.
ReplyDeleteYou could still enjoy one though.
DeleteOur old cat, Bagheera, was a rescue that my husband's neighbor girls had found as a tiny kitten. She's fourteen now and still rules the roost, she took a swipe at Charlie this morning while he was sniffing her.
ReplyDeleteThe weaving is very pretty, maybe one day I'll even give it a go.
I was all set up to register Jack for swimming lessons this morning, had a timer to remind me, opened the computer to the right page, had my credit card handy, but nothing would work. Registration opens next Tuesday:)
A week early is better than late, though.
DeleteBand weaving is pretty easy to set up, compared to other weaving. The warping is more manageable. Try it!
Ah- I do recognize that beautiful butterfly. I look at it and love it every day.
ReplyDeleteSeveral butterflies migrated -- all to warmer climates, now I come to think of it.
DeleteShe was a beautiful cat. Although I have heard often of advent calendars I will admit I don't know what they are. Should I have put this in writing? I'm sorry for Gary. Oh, I make sheet pan lasagna and it's good. And easy.
ReplyDeleteIt's a usually paper or fabric thing where you start December 1, and open one door each day until they're all opened by Christmas Day, usually a treat per day or something. I think it's originally a German custom. I never had them as a kid, but the electronic version is nice now. I had to give it to myself because the people who used to supply me are gone, sigh.
DeletePoor Gary is run off his feet.
I have an advent calendar of jigsaw puzzles - a small puzzle for each day that will join up to create a large puzzle which I will use as my dining room table centerpiece. It's all photos of vintage Christmas cards and really cute and colorful.
ReplyDeleteThat's a nice version. There's so many options now, different from the simple cardboard version of yore. See, I'm getting into the Chrissy lingo.
DeleteShe was a beautiful cat and a good companion. I use a lot of aquafaba my self. Sounds like good eating.
ReplyDeleteI should say more about her. She was a devoted nurse to HS in his last years.
DeletePasta cooking in the sauce is a great idea I’ve seen on YouTube videos lately too, Boud. I will have to try it!
ReplyDeleteLet us know how you like it.
DeleteI've never actually had an advent calendar of any kind. Should do that one day. Bucket list, I guess. lol!
ReplyDeleteI like the multi-colors on the lanyard. I do love color. Would love to see what you are thinking about making. ;)
Sounds like the tofu recipe was a win! Good to hear.
Have a wonderful rest of your day! :)
You could make an advent calendar, a painting per day, for your family next year? Until I make a thing, nobody's seen it! I definitely will do the lentil tofu again. It's the best way I've had lentils other than soup.
DeleteI have had to look up aqua faba (i had assumed something to do with beans) - I must try using it as egg substitute as I had read ages ago that the liquid off chickpeas could be whipped up like egg whites to make matshmallow.
ReplyDeleteAqua faba really does act like egg whites. I've used it from cannellini beans,too. Great when you're low on eggs and saves having to figure out the yolks, too. A Tb. equals one egg, more or less.
DeleteJust read a recipe yesterday for cooking pasta in its sauce. Worth a try. Re Gary, December can be a sorrowful month for so many.
ReplyDeleteYes, about Gary. Tomorrow's his birthday.
DeleteTry the pasta idea. It's good. I had been hesitant, but it worked.
What a pretty kitty. I am working on simplifying and organizing my life as much as possible for the day my son has to deal with what I've left behind.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Good for you. He'll bless you for it.
DeleteVery pretty cat, right up to the end.
ReplyDeleteShe was lovely. I'm glad I got that picture.
DeleteI wonder if it's the Jacquie Lawson advent you're playing with? I almost signed up but am happy with the Country Cottage I already have.
ReplyDeleteMarigold looks lovely and I'm sure she gave you many hours of love.
Yes it's the Jacquie Lawson one. I'm having fun playing silly games on it!
DeleteMarigold was the best companion HP could have had. Never left his side.