Notes from the past, weaving, walking, calendar and

 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.

Marigold left us today, very quietly, comfort food later

Marigold left us this morning early, peaceful.  The vet's office was very considerate, vet herself in special purple scrubs, not usual color for her, and the table was set up with a pink blanket.  All very respectful and kind to both of us.  

And I found that while I was with her, they burned a candle outside in the reception area, with a notice explaining a euthanasia was happening, and for everyone to keep their voices down. It was a very good touch.  Vet left me for as long as I wanted with her after she died, after covering her body and leaving her head for me to pet.  Couldn't talk, but I did thank Marigold for all those years of sterling loyalty.

I do think rescued animals know what we did for them, and never fail to thank us.  So I was glad to be able to give her a peaceful easy death when she was ready. 

Hard day.  Next door neighbor gave me a hug when we met as I got home, and put away the carrier for me on the high shelf in the storage area I can't reach.

Next order of business, comfort food.  

Apple crumble, with oatmeal topping.  Seen here with the cook's privileged first slice already dealt with. I don't use a recipe for this any more, other than to check the oven temp. Plenty of spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, sumac in the fruit, fruit macerated then the fruit into the baking dish, liquid reduced in small pan, and poured back over.  Topping of molasses mixed with white sugar, melted butter stirred with oatmeal and oatmeal ground to flour.

This is a kind of all purpose food.  Good as dessert, good, since it's oatmeal and fruit, as breakfast, too. Keeps up a person's strength.

Midsummer's Day or First Day of Summer, which is it?

I ask because I wonder which traditions are in collision here.  I'd much rather think of it as the first day of summer, rather than the middle, with summer half over before I've even got into it yet, but I have no doubt knowledgeable blogistas will be able to explain it all. Probably something about having two seasons long ago.

Meanwhile, back in the kitchen, very local eating yesterday now that the Ottolenghi frenzy has abated, with a nice two egg asparagus omelette, eggs from Griggs Farm Market, asparagus from farmshare, a handful of herbs picked from the patio, involving tarragon, parsley, oregano, peppermint and lemon balm.  

Then a little salad of lettuce from a container on the patio, part of farmshare a few weeks back, with the last of the cherry harvest, and a spritz of champagne vinegar. Total locavore smugness reigns.

Kitty Marigold threw me into a scare yesterday, refusing to eat for two days, just looking at the food then sort of turning her head. She's probably in early kidney failure, old cat now, and her coat is starting to fail, she's peeing and drinking a lot more, and I was very dismayed when she wouldn't eat, a first for her in her life.  Up to now she's been playing and wrestling with Duncan, and eating fine, which are my criteria for a happy cat, no matter what her actual health situation.

But the not eating, and looking as if everything tastes bad was the beginning of the end for dear Boud, my late lovely kitty who gave me my screen name.  So I started making sad little plans, and mentally writing her life tribute, and deciding how long to wait.

Then this morning Marigold suddenly decided she was hungry after all, scoffed her breakfast down before Duncan could get it, and I feel much better.  The plans are still in place, but they're on hold for the moment.  I wonder if she read my mind and thought, hey, not so fast.

Marigold savaging a toy, more usual activity.


Likewise Rosie Golden, my golden showers rose which totally failed to thrive, looked like dead sticks, was replaced by the growers, replacement totally ftt, too, looked like ds, too, they sent me a refund many weeks ago, and I was about to dig it out and toss it, when suddenly two days ago she put out leaves! 

 I think the threat of being tossed woke her up and she's now set to work to grow.