Boots, bowls, croquettes and mysteries

Chapter One Boots

So I retrieved the frozen boot, removed the bag of ice

which had taken on the shape of the boot interior. Next time I'll keep the ice to reuse, didn't think about this till it had thawed.

Then tried both boots on. Definite improvement, and to help preserve the new size, I rammed in an old pair of keds, which I could force in well and will be able to retrieve okay.

So far so good. I may need to treat the right one again. I may reserve the spray when it arrives to use outside in milder weather, Quinn, ty.

Chapter Two Bergamot Bowls 

So Sunday I painted them with a favorite light gold metallic acrylic, then drew with black marker.

I'm quite pleased. They look like thin walled pottery. I decided not to preserve the natural interior, since without lids, the scent would evaporate. So I painted the lot.  The top picture is nearer the actual color. 

This was a nice experience. I have two more lemons to go, and maybe I'll do the decoration differently.

Chapter Three All Purpose Croquettes and Bars 

These used up the last of the Christmas corn and one remaining potato, mixed with caramelized onions and garlic, steamed cabbage, ham dice, ground flaxseed, a bit of flour and an egg, minced parsley, mashed chickpeas.  Seasoned with salt and paprika.

And a sauce of yogurt, garlic, lemon juice. 

The tablet was open to a recipe I departed from so completely there's no point in referring to it! But it did give me the mashed chickpea idea.

The garnish is a sprig of peppermint I have growing in the kitchen, still quite aromatic despite the waning sunshine.

And later I made a batch of peanut butter granola bars because I'm tired of toast for breakfast.

Chapter Four Great Mystery Short Story Discovery 

I just found this and she's a very entertaining read, a Victorian era detective with her sidekick Ivy. It's a Sherlockian approach, deductions from clues, and really good.

Happy day everyone. I certainly had one. Make all the things.

Balance and boots

After snow and ice meant no outdoor activity beyond trudging to the recycle, I thought I'd better keep up my strength Saturday, and did a thirty minute resistance and balance workout with April and Aiko.

April used 8 lb weights, I used 5 lb and Aiko used 2 lb. It was certainly warming, and I felt more cheerful after it. 

And I thought why not try the ice idea, thank you Ellen, for stretching the right boot, the one more in need. 

I found a Ziploc bag, to my surprise, half filled it with water and for safety put it inside a plastic loaf bag, not wishing to soak the boot. 

Putting it in the boot was tricky because the design of this one doesn't open up completely. There's a kind of inner lining holding it together. Anyway I managed it.

And here it is in the freezer for a day. So we'll see.  I already tried ramming a plastic glass into the toe of each boot, and hadn't tested whether it worked on this one.

But I did wrestle the glass back out of the other boot and found it had worked okay there. 

Fairly happy foot there. One down. 

Happy day everyone, One foot after the other does it.