Sunday, January 15, 2017

marmalade, achieved.



Success! Mighty tasty too. Four oranges, 1 lemon, 2 kilos of sugar: 4 half pints, 3 pints. Next time I'll cut the peel in finer strips, but it's more of an aesthetic than anything.

Saturday, January 14, 2017

canning, winter edition

Ack; this is the first time I've made marmalade, but it didn't 'jam'. It's a soupy jar of sort-of suspended orange peel. I saw oranges labeled 'sour oranges' at the grocery store, so assumed they are those that are otherwise knows as Seville oranges and combined two with two navel oranges.

I have a problem getting jam to jam at the right consistency (usually too firm), so I underestimated the time needed for this person's recipe. It tastes great, by the way, so I will endeavor to fix this.


(Food Network image)


Tomorrow the jars will be upended back into the kettle to reach 220°F and jam, damn it!

Sunday, January 08, 2017

Not one, but

two emergency rooms! D had what seemed to be a TIA, or small brief stroke-like spell Friday evening. Saturday morning, he felt no better so we drove to the big downtown hospital's satellite, Hospital North.

The parking lot was empty when we arrived. We were the only people there. As soon as he checked in, D was whisked back into the ER.

It was like going back to another era. While I waited in the large, empty waiting room, a cop arrived with his bag lunch, and sat down behind a desk. A man with an important looking badge arrived and then left.

The ER doctor, who seemed to be Doogie Howser's age-mate, checked this and that and discovered a very low hematocrit level. D got an ambulance ride to Downtown Hospital, where he was checked in. We arrived soon after, and sat with him in his ER holding room. While there, various specialists arrived unexpectedly to ask him general questions.

He is there today, awaiting an MRI, but feeling much better. We are hoping that whatever it is can be resolved without much to do.

Friday, January 06, 2017

Wednesday, January 04, 2017

Make it happen . . .

A lovely little piece I encountered elsewhere. I'm embarrassed that my own sewing machine sits bereft, alone, unloved. Another goal: sew some of these this year. If you have any pattern links, please share them.

Sunday, January 01, 2017

well, yes a New Year, so of course I'm going to post here on a regular basis

At least I hope to. I've got prompts and plans and journaling ideas and a yoga Revolution over here with Adriene to participate in every day. Phew; so much going on, plus getting more positive, not dwelling on the negative (ha; 2017? I don't think so). Do you think I can do all this? well . . .