Pasta bean something and look! Hibiscus!

Today was a bit under the weather day, very hot, didn't get in a walk, since the sun exposure thing, UV index, was high. 

But I did get into stitching, and it's getting there.

The gradual increase in heft as the stitching mounts up is pleasing.  I'm thinking about the next page now, and making little weavings while I think about it.

And early in the week, before food arrives Thursday morning, is sometimes a bit what to eat, bread's done, want to avoid heating up the kitchen.

Anyway, this happened and I'm quite pleased. One can diced tomatoes, can cannellini beans, chunk of Parmesan, chunk of butter, cumin, chili powder, mixed with radiator pasta. 

The garnish is homegrown scallions.  Not sure what this might be called. It's more beans and tomatoes than pasta. It's good though, by any name.

Additional note for people unfamiliar with radiator pasta 

Strawberries and yogurt for dessert. So I guess there was something to eat in the place.

And here's a hugely exciting sight 

Suddenly, finally, the hibiscus I thought would never start, threw out this sturdy growth. This is the replacement for the snowdrops that never grew, well, two out of about 100. 

Up until yesterday, the hibiscus looked like a dead twig, with just a hint of green wood. Now I guess its time has come. So I'm glad I left it alone. 

Happy day, everyone, sometimes doing nothing is a good policy. Then there's this approach 

Guilty as charged.

 

Good eye witness report , Textiles and Tea, fiber plans

All's well with Eye One, now ready for Eye Two tomorrow . Very good reports up to now. And the optho promised a word with the anaesthesiologist to dial down the fentanyl in the mix, to avoid the aftereffects. So  all's good.

Handsome Son and I had a rapid lunch, card presentation and cake, before he had to dash into work, taking half the remaining cake home with him, birthday custom. It went well. It's pretty good, worth the dratted pitting.

Then I fell into a deep sleep, partly the cake, partly the effects of being out in feels like 100+ temps. 

I woke with the alert telling me Textiles and Tea was up.

She's very young but already established, famous textile artists such as Rebecca mezoff messaged in as she talked, to greet her.

She works in tapestry, very small, here about six by nine inches, and overshot, very large, here seen as bedspreads. And she embroiders in cross stitch. Next she fancies willow basket making! Such energy and talent, fun to watch, and so happy in her life.

Later I caught Sally Pointer on YouTube organizing her fibers and seeing that wonderful array of threads it occurred to me that I might mix roving into my natural string.

I remarked recently that cord making us really spinning and plying, and it dawned that I could try drafting roving into the process of cord making, for a mixed wool and plant thread for making the rest of this basket or whatever it is.

Or maybe plying some spun yarn with string, we'll see.

 When my shoulder agrees, that is. Those few inches of cord I made a couple of days ago cost me. 

And socks will always be happening, just not as incessantly as before. Sister M knows the situation and is fine with it.

This morning, less hot today, nice rain for the plants, and the self seeded tomato has taken over, hopeful of a good crop, since we have plenty of growing year left. 

And, in the other corner, the sage has never grown like this, taking over chairs, other plants, all it surveys. 

The little Italian basil I started indoors in water, here meeting its future home

And here, established as a kitchen plant

My neighbor who grew up on a farm, swears by a pot of basil in the kitchen to deter insects. 

Soon the Thai basil will come in, too, to use in cooking. 

And the political scene appears more cheerful than for years, two new NATO members now in solidarity, right wingers in disarray with Scott's phone under scrutiny. 

I really wonder if there's an increase in stress-related medical events in the right wing. They're certainly seeing chickens coming home to roost big-time. I don't wish them ill, just clearer thinking. Which might be the impossible dteam.

Happy day everyone, play on! Enjoy what you can, you're worth it!

Nature goes on anyway

Even when people are in crisis, nature steams ahead.

The Thai basil finally germinated and will soon need the netting removed from her pot.

Those tiny tomato seedlings are now ready for a new home

And this big jungly mass is the candy roaster squash you saw me plant as seeds in a pot with netting to protect against squirrels. I think she can defend herself just fine now. In fact the Thai basil needs to be protected from her at this rate.

Supper before the Bite Club meeting

Since this is a new group, I have no idea what to expect.  They encourage people to bring food they've cooked, but since I didn't actually cook anything from Alice Waters, her book being nice but not new to me, I decided I'd bring a handful of fresh late season herbs to share.

So I can do that, bringing sage, lemon thyme, English thyme, peppermint, spearmint, oregano and hope people are interested.

Meanwhile, I picked up my farmshare this afternoon, and found some lovely late season big tomatoes.  Perfect for a quick and favorite supper:  diced big, with cubes of sharp cheddar, two eggs broken over, kosher salt, black pepper, sprig of lemon thyme laid on top, half an hour at 380 F.  

Yet another dish in search of a name.  Possibly Welsh rarebit.  Or Independence for Scotland, depending on how you feel.  

And perfect with a slice of toast from that big loaf I made with the wholewheat and a.p. and oat flours.  It has a lovely crumb and a great crust. Must remember that combo.

The wine is just for the shoot -- I'll drink it when I get home again, not wishing to drive after even a single glass of wine.

Bringing in the Sheaves. And More Sheaves. And Yet More Sheaves..

This is the time of year when the farmshare is at its height, and physically lifting the share becomes a planning operation. 

Yesterday's looks like this:

raw material for redskin potato salad, corn chowder, spaghetti sauce, shredded zucchini for bread, broccoli for steaming, bell peppers for stuffing and stirfry, and eggplant gift for neighbors. 

My farmshare will take me right through to next March without buying any vegetables other than carrots and celery, which won't grow around here. But between here and there is a lot of activity in the kitchen.  Good thing I sharpened my chef's knife this week.

Update on the oat flour: it makes great pancakes, too.  Oat flour and walnut pancakes this morning for breakfast, with a nice drizzle of honey.  Makes it worth getting up in the morning.