Misfits and decor

 Yesterday's Misfits box brought the makings of granola, among other things 

And a pumpkin for the doorstep for a few days before becoming soup

This is my entire Fall decorating. When the weather turns wintry, the wooden cat comes indoors.

The beauty of fruit, never fails 

And here's the granola, oats, walnuts, dried apricots, soaked overnight, cut small, caraway seeds, vanilla, dried cranberries.

Plus its friend, the yogurt in action. Notes on the granola: I forgot how oily walnuts are, and next time I'll toast them first to release oil before baking them. I might rebake them a bit. It tastes fine, particularly when you get a hit of caraway, but it's less crunchy than the last batch. Definitely edible.

And, as my tired back could explain, I removed the zinnias, hauling them into the trees to feed the earth and shelter little animals. So here's the meter, accessible to whoever comes to change it for a new updated version.

And here's where I think the hibiscus will be, if it ever arrives, supposedly last week, but maybe they're waiting for cooler weather to ship it.

Happy day,  everyone, knitting group this afternoon, all being well.  The sock is looking more and more psychedelic as it goes.

The good news is that I can use a second ball of yarn for the second sock, so it will be a pair, and I won't have to knit a third sock to make a point 

I'm returning the final season of Suits, to the same library, ready for the quiz. I'd certainly like to know who thought peplums were a great idea. They certainly frump up even the most beautiful actors, gah. Maybe they were a thing when Suits came out.

Anyway, change of viewing pace, I've requested the first season of Sherlock, so we'll see. 

And, for listening, I hugely recommend Rachel Maddow reading Blowout. So much explanation of events and disasters in the fuel industry that didn't get coverage over the years. She's an engaging reader and a brilliant writer.

Textiles and Tea, yogurt updates

Yesterday's Textiles and Tea featured Melissa Weaver Dunning, weaver specializing in historic weave structures, tartans, Acadian (Cajun) weaves and vintage looms. See her blog spot blog for more. She's also a folk singer, a lot of YouTube videos to check. Though she's a spinner, it's the weaving she really plunges into. 

She gave a brief account of (originally) Arcadian, then Acadian, then, with moving from Canada to Louisiana, Cajun, weave forms.  Using two harness looms, the weavers created many inventive variations on weave structure.

She's knowledgeable about tartan and its political and clan identities and significance, and loves working with the designs, mixing color as they do, alternating with pure color sections.

She knitted this Aran cardigan in a mad rush to wear on a trip to Scotland, finished it at the destination! What keen knitter among us doesn't identify with that situation?

she loves to teach, and offers round robin experiences, where every participant works samples on several available looms.

Definitely look her up on YouTube, for her Mount Vernon weaving demos in costume, to her unaccompanied folk singing.

Back to today, here's my current audio book while I knit and stitch and, soon, weave. 

Written and narrated by Rachel Maddow, it's about the history and politics of fossil fuels and a lot more dramatic than I'd expected. It's adding to my education about the current turmoil in the world. 

A peaceful note to end on -- do you remember I mentioned I was processing yogurt using insulated coolpack bags, with containers of hot water  with the glass jar of yogurt?

It makes the best texture yet. I think it's because the cooling is slowed down to a very gradual decrease. So yesterday's batch I made in one bag inside another. After 24 hours, there was still warmth, and another good batch. 

This is the fourth generation from the original yogurt, and I'll soon buy another, because I think it loses vital potency after a few iterations. Anyone with experience on this issue, please let me know your opinion on how many generations you go for. Chris, looking at you!

Then with the new supply of oatmeal expected from misfits tomorrow, there will be more granola, this time with walnuts, dried apricots, cranberries and maybe caraway seeds.

Then I'll definitely be flying my hippie flag!

Happy day everyone, let's hope and pray our President can help avert worse conflict with today's Israel  visit.

Photo AC