Month: February 2007

Food2 Comments

Carrots

Greet Gijsberts

Have I mentioned my crush on Alton Brown?  He’s the creator of "Good Eats" on the Food Network, sort of a cooking version of Bill Nye, the Science Guy.  Mix science, food history, gadget physics, and a little cooking with fast-paced educated humor and you’ve got MY attention.  Anyway. Monday night’s show was about carrots, and besides all the neat info about how beta-carotene is helpful to the rods in your eyes, I was particularly interested in the medieval data on carrots.  How carrot cake is a direct decendant, via WWII Blitz England, of medieval carrot puddings.  Because carrots have … Continue reading Carrots

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Garden Planning – Feb 2007

Greet Gijsberts

Mercy, this is a busy spring.  Between garb construction, teaching spinning classes, and Gulf Wars prep, I’ve hardly thought about my garden all month, and I really need to be planting.  NOW. So far, I have set out flats of the standard early spring veg.  However, there’s some bare-root plants that I really want, and I’ve started buying potted plants too, in support of a new little nursery shop called Gaia’s Garden, that’s run by a horticulturist.  (Check that out in Internet Explorer – the Firefox version is not as pretty.)  Brought home two types of lavender, chamomile and thyme … Continue reading Garden Planning – Feb 2007

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Spindle Spinning Wheels, part 2

Greet Gijsberts

Ann commented in a previous post that the cigar box chakra wheel accessible from the Wikipedia entry was invented by Gandhi, and kindly sent me pictures of older versions of a spindle wheel.  I repeat my offer – if anyone wants to make me something like these, I will exchange fruit of my talents with you. Ann also suggested the following books, some of which I can afford now, and the others I’ll put on my BookMooch wishlist. Spinning Wheels, Spinners, and Spinning by Patricia Baines Linen: Hand Spinning and Weaving , ibid (really want to see this one) Flax … Continue reading Spindle Spinning Wheels, part 2

Clothing and Equipment1 Comment

WOOL!

Greet Gijsberts

The French Russian wool blankets arrived yesterday. They are destined to become a cloak.  They are in the washing machine, getting the funny mothball smell out, and hopefully getting the last of their felting over with. I have three of them, and they are very heavy and wonderfully warm.  I bet they’re even heavier wet.  I got a chance to try out wool’s ability to resist rain today, in my favorite sweater, which did rather well in a downpour.  Hmm – I may be okay after all with this plan. Update: After laundering, they are nicely drapey, but not exactly … Continue reading WOOL!