Friday Round Up: Random Edition
07/30/2010
It's time for a Friday Round Up! It's been a busy week here. I was away for two weekends in a row, so I had quite a backlog of chores to catch up on. Of course, it didn't help that my dryer broke down . . . just as I was starting my assault on Mt. Laundry! I was stuck with a load of wet towels from "up north" (meaning . . . really old, kind of threadbare, and prone to mildew). I started my week waiting for a new timer for the dryer. . . and displaying my "up north" towel collection on my back fence.
Luckily, the repair was completed by Wednesday, and I was back in business. (Of course, the laundry had multiplied right before my eyes in the meantime!)
To distract me from the ever-growing laundry pile, I decided to make some ice cream. Chocolate! Gosh, there are a lot of calories. . . and fat. . . in ice cream!
Making it yourself, it seems like there are even MORE calories . . . because you SEE the ingredients go into the bowl. . .
and you know what's in there.
Remember Puck? Brian's parrot? Well. . .
he's sort of. . . worming his way into my heart. We still aren't the best of friends, but we like each other a whole lot more now. He's very, very happy living in my office. He loves music -- and I always have music playing. He sings and whistles to the music, and even does a little "dancing" now and then. He has a lot more social interaction now that he's closer to the center of our home, and he's responding well. Maybe this will work out better than I thought. . .
My herb garden is really flourishing! Although I snip fresh herbs to use in cooking all the time, it's now Herb Harvest Time. I picked these first thing this morning . . .
and will spend some time this evening freezing some. . . and drying others. . . for use during the winter. Last week, Kim put together a fabulous post about preserving herbs. Check it out!
I also have begun my pepper harvest. Besides the bell peppers, I'm growing jalapeno and cayenne peppers this year.
Actually, it looks like I'm going to have a bumper crop of the jalapenos and cayenne -- so I'm going to string them and dry them for use later. I'm also planning to try to pickle some of the jalapenos!
With all these herbs around, I've been getting a lot of use out of this nifty little herb chopper.
Works like a charm!
As for what's blooming this week in my garden. . . we have PeeGee Hydrangea. . .
. . . grass "plumes". . .
. . . and brown-eyed Susan.
Have a wonderful weekend!
==========
Just a little follow-up note. Remember this project?
The lovely little cardigan with the totally messed up pattern? Well, I just wanted to let you all know that the designer was very receptive to my notes and suggestions. For the time being, she has pulled the pattern from distribution/sale and is working out the bugs. The Ravelry page for this design now carries this note from the designer:
July 18, 2010: Guinevere is temporarily unavailable. I am
working on making it a little clearer and to address some errata that
has come to my attention. I hope it will be back up for sale in 2 weeks.
I'm so pleased that she is handling things this way. I just wanted to pass it along. . .
Ohmygosh I love, love, love your Aladdin towel; we have (among other things) an old Power Rangers towel that makes me smile every time I fold it.
; )
Posted by: Vicki | 07/30/2010 at 08:04 PM
Homemade ice cream sounds wonderful!
Broken appliances are a bummer. Do they always break when you need them the most??
Glad to hear you and Puck are liking each other a bit more. :)
Posted by: Marilyn | 07/30/2010 at 09:07 PM
But the calories are totally worth it because you do know exactly what went into the ice cream.
I'm so glad the designer took it well.
Does Puck fold towels? ;^)
xo
Posted by: Cookie | 07/30/2010 at 10:44 PM
Love the bird and the flower photos, too! I think those birds need that social interaction. I'm glad you're both warming to each other.
Posted by: Kay - From the Back Yard | 07/31/2010 at 07:24 AM
I love your garden pictures!
Posted by: Jane | 07/31/2010 at 12:36 PM
I missed the Friday round up and here it is MONDAY. Your peppers are much farther along that ours. I sure would like a fancy herb cutter like yours!
Posted by: margene | 08/02/2010 at 11:05 AM
Your produce make me want to cook! and the photos of your garden make me very happy,
thank you :)
Posted by: Rachel | 08/02/2010 at 11:15 AM