Yesterday I noticed I had very little butter to last till the Thursday delivery, so I needed something for my toast. A little pot of strawberry jam happened.
I make small quantities, no need to get carried away. And these really small amounts have great flavor. Just strawberries, lemon juice, sugar. Also great with yogurt.
I took a longer walk, different direction this morning, to try to settle the pesky sciatic/ piriformis whatever going on, and the wind and temp were so cold.
Back in gloves and hat and warm jacket. By Tuesday they say high 80s f. Hm. It can't decide. But I found a lovely azalea, my favorite variety with big white flowers. This one had an extra feature.
And there were handy things at the dumpster, this one probably vital for weaving and other tools, so it's home now.
Home again I got into a bunch of weaving research, found new sources and here's what resulted. The Vesterheim Museum is a great find.
She's a young Swedish weaver, pattern band maker and now heddle carver. Watching her carve a heddle reminded me I would like a sunna heddle, with short slots for the pattern threads. It's easier than the regular heddle I've been using.
Then I thought instead of yet another outlay, I'd try making one from cardboard, using an old tissue box.
I'll try this with threads and see how it goes. Not as sturdy as the usual wood and plastic, but worth a try.
I might even get back to weaving my current band, too.
Happy day everyone, try all the things! Sez Ted and Big Ursy and Pony and Ursula.
You enlightened me several years ago about small-batch jam, and I thank you every time I make a batch. It's so much easier than the whole canning rigamarole.
ReplyDeleteI love that you said "I could use a smaller heddle", and promptly made one. I, on the other hand, had a long afternoon nap after a far too busy week.
Good luck with your upcoming weather whiplash. What a roller-coaster of a spring!
Chris from Boise
Sometimes the best thing you can do is rest. Sunday afternoon is a good time for it.
DeleteAbout jam, I think people get stuck in the harvest mindset where there's suddenly a lot of fruit and you have to make a lot of jam, like an annual event. But there are smaller options.
The jam looks delicious, I wanted to lick my screen.
ReplyDeleteIt's really good. Just a small amount.
DeleteI am impressed that you wrestled that thing home. No impending heat wave here.
ReplyDeleteI just wheeled it, lightweight and with casters. It is light enough to lift, but awkward, so I trundled it up the street.
DeleteYou do so many things in one day that I have never even thought of doing ever! I am always amazed at your resourcefulness!
ReplyDeleteIt's what comes of living alone and figuring things out, I think. Most enterprises are not as hard as their proponents would have us believe. Anyway that's my story.
DeleteI never knew that heddles were so varied and interesting. Of course, I didn't even know what heddles were, before your blog!
ReplyDeleteMy comment vanished, off my own blog! I was saying I'm a bit obsessed and I may need to back off the heddles a bit before I drive everyone away.
DeleteI’ve always like a sunna huddle myself. (It just sounded good.) I LOVE how you make jam for breakfast.
ReplyDeleteHuddles and heddles, it's all good. Where I grew up, huddle would be pronounced like heddle anyway! I like tiny batch jam for a purpose, Labor saving.
DeleteI like your new storage cabinet -- lovely to be able to separate projects and supplies. That jam looks great!
ReplyDeleteGreat find at the dumpster! I avoid looking at ours because I just know there would be something there I'd think I couldn't live without.
ReplyDeleteIt seems sciatica is making its rounds. I feel for you. Pun intended. You are so creative. From art to cooking, you can always find a way.
ReplyDelete