Misfits, surprises and tea

Misfits arrived today, and I remembered this week to put out the freezer blocks and foil insulated bags for pickup.

Apricots for an upcoming Melissa Clark snacking cake I've made several times. You stud the top with fruit. I've done plums, and I'm proposing to do apricot this time. First to soak them overnight. It makes a lot, all the neighbors will be glad to hear, Handsome Son too 

Strawberries were available at Misfits because too small, but every berry in the container was good, and they were fine.

Small cans of diced tomatoes are my staple for all kinds of meals, until the ripe ones come in locally. 

I was in the middle of the shrimp, black bean  pickled red onion recipe when it arrived. This is why I pickled those red onions last week, so the pickles would be ready.

The official recipe needs corn, which I didn't have, only buy from the farm in season. 

So I subbed chickpeas. And found a container of lime slices in the freezer, few seconds in the microwave and I was able to squeeze out juice. Also needed was lemon juice which I had. Cumin, salt, scallions, garlic, avocado oil. 

I sauteed the shrimp in butter and avocado oil, while the other doings waited in their dressing, made a nice little reduction of the shrimp and garlic liquid, sprinkle of cornstarch, tossed it all together, and lunch was served. With strawberries and yogurt. 

Five star stuff around here today. 

I was doing laundry today, finally took down the kitchen curtains which have been looking desperate for a while, and replaced them with the similar ones from the spare bedroom immediately upstairs from the kitchen. The plan was to hang the kitchen ones upstairs.

All seemed well, chucked everything in the dryer while I stitched. When I opened the dryer door I noticed a lot of fluff. A lot. I thought the curtains must have been shedding, anyway I'd hang them right away.

And found that the middle of one had largely collapsed into a few strands of cotton between top and bottom hems. Impossible to repair, that must have been the fluff I saw. The matching curtain was fine. Mystery. So I hung it in the middle of the bedroom window, trying to look as if it was the design. 

Then this box of surprises arrived 

The canned beans will tell all who love her who was the sender!  Mwah!

Now see over there on the left a stack of linen and cotton hemstitched pieces? They will be my new curtain. Timing!

And here's something in immediate use

Not to mention all the art related ideas I have for the other items. Weaving, stitching, various ideas.

And my tea supplies appeared on the step at the same time, so I was able to make a pot of tea to recover from the curtain debacle and enjoy the new box o' fun.

Nice day. One door closes, another bursts open pouring treats all over.

Happy day everyone, I hope today's a cornucopia for you, too, one way or another.