I sit down to compose a post, without a thought in my head about what I will write about. The cat joins me, pussy footing it between the keyboard and the screen, as is her wont.
She visits me in the Loom Room too, where I am still struggling with the knots that secure the new warp to the end of the old warp - the dummy warp, - cosying up close, kissing my wrist. I try to slip in to tackle this task when she is outside in the garden, but somehow she knows and before I have two or three knots tied she is there ...mother's little helper!!!
No warp knots tied today, but I did make a most delicious Italian Prune crumble - had a bowl with a smidgin of ice cream and felt thoroughly spoiled. The kitchen is full of fruit and herbs and today I bought some pickling salt to make bread and butter pickles the easy way (recipe follows).
The Cobbler is 'just a cobbler' but I added a
little pear liquor to the filling and probably a bit more butter so that the topping was lovely and rich.
Prunes don't look terribly appetizing, but a half a cup of brown sugar, a half a cup of white, some crispy oats and they are heavenly.....
The pickles are a cinch to make - the recipe from my dear friend, Margaret, who alas is gone (as are so many of my dear friends...)
You need to bring to a boil 4 cups of vinegar, 4 cups of white sugar, one quarter cup of pickling salt, one and one half teaspoons of celery seed, one tsp of tumeric and one and one half teaspoons of mustard seed. Pour over thinly sliced pickling cucumbers (as many as you can get your hands on..)
Stir every day for five days, and then store in the refrigerator in ice cream pails until they are all gone. So tasty, and so convenient....
After a cool July the weather has been exceedingly warm, - 36 degrees C today, I went early to town, while the night coolness was still lingering, and took the car. It has been my determination to get familiar and happy with using Charles' electric cart, but it being one that he used in the orchard, built sturdy and big, I feel it somewhat cumbersome and for the same reason that I don't really like to admit that I am almost ninety-two, I am not happy being seen riding around on a cart for 'old people'. I believe this condition is caused by too much ego, and I do try to be more humble and accepting.......
Perhaps I will take the cart to ukulele practice tomorrow and I can practise being 'umble as well as strumming "Hello, my Baby" and "Buffalo Gals".
I listened to a video of the British Ukulele Orchestra and was so impressed
and filled with admiration!
And I can't even whistle!!!!
4 comments:
I feel just the same about showing my age Hildred (83) and although at present am on crutches because my arthritis in my ankle is bad, I do not wish to have an 'inbalid' cart.
You are amazing. You probably need a smaller, more lady like cart. Love the pickle recipe, have tucked it away for future use.
How delightful to be back in touch with you, Hildred, after my long summer hiatus. Yes, perhaps you need to park the cart for when you "need" it! A little ego which keeps us on our toes is good, I think. You're experiencing hot weather, and I'm bundled in a sweatshirt with the fire going. I was just saying to Bob this morning that I hope we have a long fall this year and that the snow waits until Oct (not likely!). I've been making peach/blueberry crisps but must stop since Bob and I have both gained a few pounds with all the celebrating!
Whistling might just be the ONLY thing you cannot do Hildred! And just keep the cart until you really need it ... The prune crisp looks wonderful; while apple and pear crisps are in my Autumn wheelhouse, for some reason I never thought of making a prune one. Our daughter has a bursting tree. She is telling family and friends that no visitor can leave until they take some -- I will definitely take her up on the offer (command) next visit.
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