Imperfect Foods, snowstorm scarf, and drumroll ironing

I completed the snowstorm scarf and modeled it 

This entailed, I hope you bookmark this, ironing. This is a rare event, and the stuff has been waiting some time, but I needed to steam press my new scarf and the wool one which I've been wearing already. And a table cloth for Easter and a little curtain for the bathroom which got in the way of a cut finger and needed washing. Quite a while ago. There's more but that's for another day.

Proof of life -- iron plugged in and temp set. I didn't iron everything you see here, need to save some fun for later. Or something.

Then, since Misfits wasn't due till afternoon, I made croquettes for lunch. The last of the cod, last of the potatoes, last of the broccoli with plenty of spices, they can take it. I mashed in some green olives. Cod and green olives are a bit Mediterranean. 

I blended the lot with an egg, rolled the croquettes in panko and called it lunch. 

I cooked them for five minutes on high, then, covered, on medium another five. The glass lid is the turntable from the deceased microwave, fits nicely and it's tempered, so safe. The mixture made enough for two more croquettes for Friday.  Crunchy outside, soft inside, not too spicy.

That package of cod with spuds and broccoli, made seven meals. Not bad.

Meanwhile I put out the recycling for Misfits 

And Haleem arrived in due course, I see the pink van is back on the road.

Here's the boxful. No blueberries available this week, more lovely eggs which I now realize I didn't need to order this week. 

But I have plenty of spinach and shredded cheddar, so I can make a crust free quiche, which needs five eggs.  The shredded cheese, I know I usually avoid shredded, was in fact cheaper by weight than the block I usually buy, hence the two bags. 

Bananaz looking good, no apples this week since I had plenty. Canned goods for the food pantry, coffee for me, two bags in case, shock, horror, they don't have it whenever I need it.  

Lovely green beans, literally as fresh as new picked, very tender. I'm not a fan of green beans but these are very good. I now partly cook vegetables as soon as they arrive, and find this makes sure I use them all up. 

Two loaves for the lazy baker and I ordered flour this week. Yogurt, and they have my favorite back in stock, nice with pureed pumpkin, or peach chunks.  Chocolate because it's been a haaard week what with cold and snow.

All stocked up and feeling very lucky again.

Happy day, what do you like to have enough of in the kitchen in order to feel secure? 

The day after and Textiles and Tea

People are still digging out, but we were pretty well attended. I noticed the crews all showed up. Including the people who didn't last time, and I surmised at that time fear of ICE.  I wondered if the major anti-ICE steps taken by the state have reassured them of their safety. 

I sent a word of thanks to the gentlemen who dug the steps and walkways by hand, after the little cat plow got stuck in the deep wet snow. That was heavy work. We are in the 12-18" area, with drifting.

This was an excellent winter to be without a car. Not so lucky for the visitor from Florida though!

Some teens spent a while building a snow fort yesterday. 

Here was the construction in progress.

My scarf is progressing nicely.

Baking had to happen, since I had forgotten to order bread. No problem, sez I, I have plenty of flour. Then checked to find I didn't. Sooo, lentil cheese breads are on the menu, since I have shared the banana bread with Gary and it's finished today. The cheese breads use lentils instead of flour. Good thing I had cheese, feta and cheddar. 

Going into the oven 

Oddly, the same recipe made about 9 last time. I beat the eggs and lentils longer this time, maybe more air got in.

And here's the result, smelling pretty good, all that cheese

Then Textiles and Tea with Margaret Jones, an amazing English tapestry weaver, creating large - 2 meter square -- wool and cotton tapestry works on a simple upright frame.

She's a brilliant artist creating fluid works which could be watercolors. Take a look.

She uses a lot of techie prep work to create the cartoon she works from, and dyes her own yarn to get the color she wants.  But then her work at the loom is pure skill and vision.

This was an amazing experience. I need to see more of her work.

Happy day everyone, off now for a boiled egg and cheese bread.

This blog has daily supported and encouraged Ukraine for four years today. We won't stop.

Multi celebration day to you! And other things happening

 Today's Mardi Gras, Lunar New Year and Ramadan.

I'm an earth tiger. I wonder how they get along with fire horses. I checked out Handsome Partner's sign, water monkey, and found it's not supposed to be compatible with any tiger sign. Hm.

And I finished the scarf. I really like it. Because its a soft yarn, it feels very good, too. Sometimes you get a surprise when a yarn that feels good in your hands is scratchy on your neck.

Closer so you can see the shape better.

Yesterday also involved food, the soupe du jour being cream of red lentil and sweet potato. And enough for several more meals.

This used up the lentils left over from the tofu earlier. Sprig of fresh peppermint. I'm surprised how well the peppermint is doing in the kitchen. I'd expected it to wither.

Then today eating all the colors

Toast with butter and garlic paste, same old soup,  pureed pumpkin with blueberries and honey. Getting up my strength for Tuesday Knitting Group.

Modeling a newly knitted vest from yarn she spun.

Same knitter with Resistance Hat

Our new members, a married couple crocheting together.

A muff in progress.

Various projects lying around and Toad's bathing suit in progress.

Accomplished crochet by the earlier crocheter

Lovely shawl soon to go to a relative, while her neighbor considers a new color contrast.

Lovely lively time, with a lot of laughing and talk ranging over pets, cats hunting, smart dogs, animal rescue, music, parking, knitting classes, houses, Goodwill, German porcelain, guard dogs, FedEx, and more.

Home again in time for Textiles and Tea, and kente cloth and 

He inherited from his father a large weaving company in Ghana. The first president after Ghana got independence in 1957, Kwame Nkruma, often wore the traditional kente cloth of the region. He commissioned it from Kwasi's father, because of the cultural significance of the fabric.

It's woven in cotton and silk in strips on narrow looms, nowadays, wider ones are in use, joined into the finished yardage.

Here's a giant piece commissioned for the UN building in New York, with the UN insignia embroidered on. The group picture shows officials in front of it, showing its size and importance. He wove this in three months with a team of weavers.  His father had made one earlier and both are now in the UN archives.

Here's a traveling loom he likes to use. This makes me want to weave immediately.

Left, traditional design, right, his own design.

Here he is at his home loom, all handmade. He explained that kente cloth has deep cultural and traditional significance, including colors, some kinds such as Ashanti, preferring neutral and earth tones and others like his, the brighter colors, from which the Ghanaian flag is derived.

Full Tuesday again, though next Tuesday a doctor's appointment will cut in to both the group and T and T. 

Happy day everyone, let's all do our bit.  Baby Juan was treated for bronchitis, but returned to the Dilley concentration camp. At least he's in the medical unit now, and let's hope there's medical care. I've now written to all my reps insisting they push for the release of all children from every ICE camp and to hold fast on no further funding for ICE till our demands are met, not just promised.