what to do with unripe watermelon

 

I jumped the gun.

The watermelons out in the garden sure looked ripe.  They were the right size, had a yellow spot on the bottom from where they had been laying on the ground, and were pretty close to their projected ripening date.  I really really wanted watermelon.  So much so that I overlooked some of the other indicators of a ripe watermelon - the tendril closest to the stem hadn't yet turned brown and when thumped it sounded more hollow than dull.  (did I mention that I really really wanted watermelon?)

 

I picked it anyway and when I cut it open found myself with a totally unripe watermelon.  Bummer.

 

I certainly wasn't going to let it go to waste so I figured I would make some watermelon rind sweet pickles.  I cut the skin off and cut the flesh into similarly sized pieces, leaving out the seeds.  My watermelon was small variety and I got about 3 cups of flesh from it.

 

You can find a lot of different recipes for pickled watermelon rind online, but basically you're cooking the rind in a simple syrup of vinegar and sugar, with some spices added.  When it's done, you have pickled rind.  It's pretty good, but I will say that the flesh parts were still very "fleshy" and the consistency wasn't as good as the rind area.  Since it was just OK, I decided to take it a step further.

 

I put the pickled rind in my dehydrator and let them get to the "good and chewy" stage.  These we liked.  They are sweet but not cloying and now my daughter doesn't need to drink the sugar water out of the hummingbird feeder to get her sugar fix (which I caught her doing twice this week).

Even so, I'll be a bit more careful when I pick the next one.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

 

cleaning fleeces - a lesson learned

 

Fair warning, if you're having your morning coffee while reading this post, or if you have a delicate constitution, you might want to stop now.  There are feces below.

*****

I've been buying some wool fleeces lately.  Most are "raw" meaning they're straight off the sheep and aren't washed.  Some of the fleeces have been "skirted" which means that the really dirty stuff from near the tail and belly area (if you know what I mean) have already been pulled out.  Sheep, as you may know, live outside and tend to get dirty.  They also eat hay which gets stuck in their wool, as well as grass and other "vegetable matter".  It's normal, and expected that when you purchase these fleeces that you'll need to do some washing and picking.  

Some more than others.

I've learned a lot in the past few weeks.  I think I was lulled into a false sense of security when I processed my first fleece.  I had watched it be sheared off the sheep and while a bit dirty, it cleaned up easily and had minimal vegetable matter.  It wasn't skirted but there wasn't really any "recycled food" to deal with.

Then I ordered this fleece that was, in all fairness, described as dirty and taggy. (meaning it had some poop on it)

 

And it changed things for me.  Some poop...maybe a bit more poop than I had anticipated.  I had stupidly pulled out about a pound's worth and soaked it in the tub rather than outside like I would normally do.  When I poured off the first soak, this was my tub.

 

That's a lot of dirt for not a lot of wool.

Also... that'll learn me.

And... it ruined afternoon coffee for me.

Lastly... I pulled out the bleach after this.

I've realized that these descriptors are highly subjective.  While some fleeces are totally in line with what I feel constitutes "some" vegetable matter or "some dirt", some are vastly different.

Some fleeces are so jam-packed with vegetable matter that I think they must have dragged the sheep around behind the tractor for a few miles in the field before shearing them.

 

My point is not to complain, so much, (though that is what I'm doing, right?) but to share the experience with those of you that haven't had the pleasure of cleaning a fleece.  Think of this when you purchase pretty roving or yarn from someone who processes their own fleeces.  It takes work to get from here...

 

...to here...

 

A lot of smelly, dirty work.

I no longer wonder why that pretty wool roving is so expensive, do you?

Hats off to all you fleece-cleaners out there.

and then there were... 8?

 

My little Goose-man has found his place in the flock.  Happily, he joined the group with less stress than I imagined.   The other ducks were extremely welcoming and once he got over his initial fear, things went... well, swimmingly.  He still comes to me and begs to be picked up and cuddled though, which I am more than happy to do.  

Since that went so easily I thought, "hey, why not add another dynamic to the homestead?  We're short on chaos at the moment."

 

Enter the darkwing duck trio.  These are Cayuga ducks and were in need of a home where they could swim and do duck-like things so I brought them home with me.  I've wanted Cayugas so it seemed meant to be.

 

Can you see that iridescent shine?  Pretty, aren't they?

 

As I had hoped, they started swimming and doing duck-like things immediately.

 

The regular crew shuffled in to see who these interlopers were in their pond and I was ready to intervene if needed.  I thought for a moment I heard them snapping their fingertips as they approached, but no.

 

Much to my relief, there wasn't any conflict at all.  The Cayugas just filed out as the Pekins and Runner filed in, and went over to the other pond.

  

I'm sure they'll figure it all out and form a lovely little salt and pepper flock soon.  That ebony and ivory song is in my head... "live together in perfect harmony..."

Have a harmonious Wednesday, all.

ba gawk

This totally made my morning.

From the Ba-Gawks blog, go check it out.

start of the season mushroom feast

 

Fall mushrooming is upon us.  From the woods you can hear me cooing "hello beautiful, oh hello lovely" each time I place a mushroom in my basket.  I love this time of year.

 

Yesterday's haul consisted of just a few black trumpets, a few chanterelles, and a few lobster mushrooms.  I did find a few more past-prime lobsters which are heading to the dye pot to create more of that pretty pink.  The rest headed to my belly.

 

I wasn't in the mood for pasta, and I thought it would be rude to stand with the fry pan in my hand eating them all myself (though tempting) so I made a quick tart of sorts.  I had a puff pastry sheet in the fridge so I rolled it out and baked it, then covered it with cheese and my mushrooms and onions that I had sautee'd in butter and garlic.  I sprinkled it with Maldon salt (a gift from Julie) and oh... so good.

A good start-of-the-season feast.

I hope the rest of my week starts off as well.  And yours too.

Happy Monday!

my little guppy

 

When my family was up visiting last week we went to one of my favorite spots in our area, the Cuyuna mine pits.  Mining ceased here years ago and cold clear water has filled the mines, turning them into lakes, some reaching 450 feet deep.

While the guys were out fishing for trout in the deep lake, the girls hung out by the pier.  

 

My girl loves the water, and it was hot out, so I let her splash by the shore.  Splashing immediately turned to swimming underwater, something I didn't even know she could do!

 

I was amazed watching her dive to the bottom to retrieve rocks.  She swam and dove for a good hour, the little guppy.

 

She had quite a collection by the time she was done.

 

Then she threw them all back in the water and started over again.

Oh to be a kid.  The sheer joy of being a kid.  Sitting here writing this, I know that had I jumped in with her I could have had that same joy.  Instead I just dangled my feet while I sat on the pier.

 

 Next time though... next time I'll be right with her.  I won't miss that opportunity again.

When was the last time you let yourself give in to child-like joy?  Maybe today?

wordless wednesday... yeah, sorta

 

This was a new one on us.  

I guess this clam was really hungry.  

And had incredible reflexes.

Goose is growing up

 

 My little pal Goose is growing up so fast.

It's hard to believe that only a month ago he was egg-sized.  

Just two weeks ago he was still small enough to sit on my husband's shoulder while they watched TV together.

 

He's lost most of his baby yellow and is starting to get the first real feathers on his wings.  They sort of look like angel wings against his downy body.

 

Having been raised in the house, Goose has no idea that he's a duck.  He sleeps at our feet, begs for attention when we walk by, and yes, sits on our shoulders when we're on the couch.  Why would he think he's a duck?

We've been putting him outside with the other ducks during the day lately, but so far he's not interested in hanging out with them.  Our large female is very interested in him however and follows him around, trying to eat by him and be his friend.  The other ducks dutifully follow her around while she follows Goose around.

 

 I was concerned that the male ducks would be aggressive towards him, but that hasn't been the case at all.  I do find it interesting that even the females had no interest whatsoever in him when he was small, but now... now is a different matter. 

 

(sometimes they're interested in wool soaking too) 

I'm taking it a little personally, thinking sure, now that all the raising and diaper-changing (I kid, he didn't really wear diapers.  Tho I wish he would have at times) is done, now they want him.

 

Goose will eventually be part of the flock, I know he will.  They're a happy group of ducks and he'll fit right in.  The transition will be slow, and maybe a little sad for both of us, but it's for the best.  We all must leave the nest at some point.

I need a drum carder... advice?

 

 For the past few weeks I've been researching drum carders and I find myself a little overwhelmed.  First of all, I'm sort of a "jumper-inner" kind of person so the fact that I've spent weeks researching anything is new. 

 

Second of all, I keep thinking that surely I must be able to build my own drum carder and my mind is kind of reeling from the echo of logic saying, "nope, not this time".  Though I do keep casting glances at dog brushes and giant rollers when in stores, thinking maybe...

Truly, I don't mind paying for quality tools but I'll admit that the steep price of these babies is what has me doing extra, extra research.  Even the more affordable models are not exactly affordable.  (I literally paid less money for my first car.  (1969 Plymouth Valiant. 4-door, metallic green, white top.)

 

So, I'm asking for a little help from those of you with experience.  I know I'd like a drum carder with a medium or coarse cloth, since I want to process shorter staple-length breeds specifically for needle-felting.  Beyond that, stumped.  Are the high-end machines that much more efficient?  I like the chain driven models, because they seem more sturdy, but in practice does it really matter?  The brush that holds the wool to the drum seems like a good idea, but again, does it matter?  Are the less expensive models going to be something that I will use for years or only months?  I'd love to find a used machine but sheesh, good luck.  They seem to be rarer than hens' teeth. Does anyone have any advice?  Or a lead on a used machine?  Or a winning lottery ticket you don't want? (hey, it was worth a shot)

Like I said, I'm a little overwhelmed.

 

While I figure it all out I've been washing and dyeing some fleece that I got a few weekends ago.  I'm utterly in love with the autumnal brown with hints of green, russet, and orange that I pulled out of this latest dye pot (it is much prettier in person).  I brushed it out with a pair of dog slicker brushes and it needle-felted up beautifully.  I already have a project in the works for which it will be the perfect addition.

Thanks in advance for any advice you might have for me, and I hope the week starts off wonderfully for all of you.  Happy Monday.

you find the best things at garage sales

 

I find the best things at garage sales.  Look what I brought home with me this week.

Little kitty is as yet unnamed.  Future mouser, current cuddler.

He's the color of coffee with cream and he has a stripey tail.  Pretty cute, eh?

a full week of happy

 

The past week has been so full.

I'm not even sure how to fully express how wonderful it has been.  I've had the immense pleasure of meeting two good friends in person for the first time.  I enjoyed celtic music and the hum of spinning wheels under a blue sky.  We reveled in the love of family, explored new cities, and splashed in many different lakes.  It's been amazing and I feel a little buzzy still.  Normal life is resuming but I'll carry this happy week with me for a long time.

 

Happy weekend to you all.