It's sad, but true, the nectarines grew moldy. Well, techinically a few of them grew moldy, but I'm not about to eat, or gift, nearly moldy, not that dehydrated fruit.
Today we had one of the most pleasantly weird customers. He was in some way associated with a science fiction convention in August. He was looking for scraps of yarn to be placed on a map, the yarn would show the route of travel across the oceans. Apparently he also judges the fashion show at the science fiction convention. He liked the word of the day, even went so far as to say "that is humorous." His response to "how are you today?" was, "I'm feeling quite well, thank you." In other words, he was acting like an alien trying to fit into normal society.
I've actually been to a Star Trek convention. And although I like science fiction (not obsessively so, but up until recently it was most of what I read) I don't really fit into the crowd. I have the same crappy social skills, that's for sure, but it's astounding to me that the super comic book/science fiction fans are so unapoligetic about their personality. This guy was a very outgoing person, he obviously liked to talk, liked to meet people, yet he seemingly had no idea that "that is humorous" was a strange response. Or did he?
No longer a yarn store, and I often don't talk about yarn. But I do bake, travel, and attack wool with a needle.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Thursday, July 27, 2006
The Peaches!
At 12:30 last night I was awoken by a terrifying crash. I immediately woke up and yelled "oh my god, the peaches!" As it turns out, the noise wasn't a creature casually destroying my food dehydrator, but instead the animal, presumably the same one who has been treating one corner of my balcony as a toilet, had tipped over a plastic chair that was leaning against the house, and the chair in turn knocked down my stone gnome. Just to be safe, the food dehydrator spent the rest of the night indoors.
DAY TWO, hour 26:
I came home from work to find that the towel that had been on the dehydrator (I had placed it outside at 8 am) had blown off. When I took off the lid I noticed two objects fly out of the dehydrator.
hmmmm
Do I:
1) Just throw out the peaches, declaring nature the winner.
2) Continue with the experiment and either a) Throw them out once I've determined how long it takes food to dehydrate b) Still eat the peaches when they are done, because fly eggs are good for you, right? c) Keep telling myself that the two black objects were not actually flyers, but stray hairs that were blowing in my peripheral vision d) Give the finished product to my mother in law.
I decided to go with choice 2, though I'm still not sure what I'll do with them once they're done.
Of course, the nectarines might never dehydrate, this just might end up being a documentation of how fruits rot.
As you can see from the picture, they aren't looking very appetizing
DAY TWO, hour 26:
I came home from work to find that the towel that had been on the dehydrator (I had placed it outside at 8 am) had blown off. When I took off the lid I noticed two objects fly out of the dehydrator.
hmmmm
Do I:
1) Just throw out the peaches, declaring nature the winner.
2) Continue with the experiment and either a) Throw them out once I've determined how long it takes food to dehydrate b) Still eat the peaches when they are done, because fly eggs are good for you, right? c) Keep telling myself that the two black objects were not actually flyers, but stray hairs that were blowing in my peripheral vision d) Give the finished product to my mother in law.
I decided to go with choice 2, though I'm still not sure what I'll do with them once they're done.
Of course, the nectarines might never dehydrate, this just might end up being a documentation of how fruits rot.
As you can see from the picture, they aren't looking very appetizing
Not done yet
DAY ONE, hour 10:
Very minor dehydration is evident. Then again, today's temperature was only in the low three digits. Actually, I have no idea how hot it was today. It's turning out to be a humid night, so I just might find myself with hydrated nectarines in the morning. I also realized that I should have put a dish towel on the nectarines to prevent small unwanted visitors from sampling it. I'm a little afraid of what the squirrels might do if they find it. Well, if they do end up distroying my food dehydrator at least I'lll get a few amusing pictures out of it.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
It starts
DAY ONE, hour 3:
At first glance, it seems like only the lemon liquid has dried off the peaches, but on closer inspection, and after careful prodding (with unwashed hands), I've come to the conclusion that the said peaches are actually nectarines, and that they have already started dehydrating.
Yum
At first glance, it seems like only the lemon liquid has dried off the peaches, but on closer inspection, and after careful prodding (with unwashed hands), I've come to the conclusion that the said peaches are actually nectarines, and that they have already started dehydrating.
Yum
It's hot ...
... so hot, fruit will dehydrate instantly, or at least that's the theory.
DAY ONE, preparation:
1. The first step to dehydrating food is to purchase food. I chose three peaches from the local farmers market. Make sure they are fresh, bruises do effect the taste of dried fruit. If you don't have lemons, purchase one.
2. Cut the lemon in half, and squeeze the juice into a bowl, the flatter the bowl, the better. Put in some water, enough so that fruit slices will barely be covered. The lemon is to prevent the fruit from becoming brown (I think).
3. Start cutting the peaches. Occasionally place them in the bowl of lemon juice. I still haven't figured out how long they need to soak, but I would think 30 seconds would be fine.
4. When they are done soaking place them on a surface with vents or holes. They will need to
have the hot air move around them.
(I have no idea why this picture is sideways)
5. Continue cutting the peaches, placing them in the lemon juice, and then onto a surface. Make sure the peices don't overlap, or else they won't dehydrate very well.
Please, resist the temptation to consume said fruit prior to dehydration. The outcome will not be dehydrated fruit, just lunch.
DAY ONE, hour 0:
So far the fruit has been in the sun for -1 minute. It does not appear that the peaches have commenced dehydration.
DAY ONE, preparation:
1. The first step to dehydrating food is to purchase food. I chose three peaches from the local farmers market. Make sure they are fresh, bruises do effect the taste of dried fruit. If you don't have lemons, purchase one.
2. Cut the lemon in half, and squeeze the juice into a bowl, the flatter the bowl, the better. Put in some water, enough so that fruit slices will barely be covered. The lemon is to prevent the fruit from becoming brown (I think).
3. Start cutting the peaches. Occasionally place them in the bowl of lemon juice. I still haven't figured out how long they need to soak, but I would think 30 seconds would be fine.
4. When they are done soaking place them on a surface with vents or holes. They will need to
have the hot air move around them.
(I have no idea why this picture is sideways)
5. Continue cutting the peaches, placing them in the lemon juice, and then onto a surface. Make sure the peices don't overlap, or else they won't dehydrate very well.
Please, resist the temptation to consume said fruit prior to dehydration. The outcome will not be dehydrated fruit, just lunch.
DAY ONE, hour 0:
So far the fruit has been in the sun for -1 minute. It does not appear that the peaches have commenced dehydration.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
naked sheep
Yesterday was my birthday, happy birthday to me. My family spreads out our birthdays over a week. It's nice in terms of having presents spread out, but after hearing "Happy Birthday" repeated over the course of a week it's starting to lose it's meaning. In case you're wondering, I'm 25. A quarter of a century, no longer in the 18-24 range, and end of an era.
Maybe it's because I'm older and wiser, or maybe owning a yarn store has just made me into a more material possession kinda person, but this year was the first time that I can remember where I actually made numerous present requests. All of the presents satisfied some need, like a new phone (Jessamy took over mine last year, yet she continued to claim that she didn't need one), AAA renewal, haircut, and ... roving.
Jessamy bought me a quarter pound of sheep hair, and yes, that was on my wish list.
She bought it at Pets with Fez, a cool weaving store on York and 51st. They offer spinning classes, so we assumed they would also have roving. As it turns out they don't sell roving, but they do have it. This was part of the owner's personal collection.
And notice the semi appropriate bag it came in.
Maybe it's because I'm older and wiser, or maybe owning a yarn store has just made me into a more material possession kinda person, but this year was the first time that I can remember where I actually made numerous present requests. All of the presents satisfied some need, like a new phone (Jessamy took over mine last year, yet she continued to claim that she didn't need one), AAA renewal, haircut, and ... roving.
Jessamy bought me a quarter pound of sheep hair, and yes, that was on my wish list.
She bought it at Pets with Fez, a cool weaving store on York and 51st. They offer spinning classes, so we assumed they would also have roving. As it turns out they don't sell roving, but they do have it. This was part of the owner's personal collection.
And notice the semi appropriate bag it came in.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Que?
I have a hard time retaining oral information.
My boss (at my other job) will say, I need you to print out a case summary for the Bunbury case, and take out the trash, and feed the chickens, and shave your eyebrows. Five minutes later, all I'll remember is that she asked me to do something. It's actually surprising she hasn't fired me yet. Is my memory getting worse, or is it stress. Or did all my other jobs just require me to do one thing at a time? Don't know, can't remember.
Not all of my memory is bad. I'm excellent at remembering faces. And the other day my boss asked where a certain document was filed, and I was able to remember that. But more than one spoken instruction, and I forget what my name is. The simple solution of course would be to just write down everything she tells me to do. But that would require remembering to write down everything she tells me to do.
My boss (at my other job) will say, I need you to print out a case summary for the Bunbury case, and take out the trash, and feed the chickens, and shave your eyebrows. Five minutes later, all I'll remember is that she asked me to do something. It's actually surprising she hasn't fired me yet. Is my memory getting worse, or is it stress. Or did all my other jobs just require me to do one thing at a time? Don't know, can't remember.
Not all of my memory is bad. I'm excellent at remembering faces. And the other day my boss asked where a certain document was filed, and I was able to remember that. But more than one spoken instruction, and I forget what my name is. The simple solution of course would be to just write down everything she tells me to do. But that would require remembering to write down everything she tells me to do.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Friday, July 07, 2006
We're almost a year old!
That Yarn Store is turning a year old this Sunday.
So, if you're in the area please stop in.
You are invited to our
Christmas in July, One Year Anniversary, Charity Fest, Birthday Celebration Party!!!
Come on over for:
9:30-12 Knitted Gnome Class $28, materials extra
12-1:30 Live music by Tom McNally
1, to 3, to 5 pm Charity knitting. Come in for free patterns and pattern help for your charity project.
6-7 Live music Tom McNally
Sunday, July 9th, 9-late
That Yarn Store
1578 W. Colorado Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90041
So, if you're in the area please stop in.
You are invited to our
Christmas in July, One Year Anniversary, Charity Fest, Birthday Celebration Party!!!
Come on over for:
9:30-12 Knitted Gnome Class $28, materials extra
12-1:30 Live music by Tom McNally
1, to 3, to 5 pm Charity knitting. Come in for free patterns and pattern help for your charity project.
6-7 Live music Tom McNally
Sunday, July 9th, 9-late
That Yarn Store
1578 W. Colorado Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Gnome on the range
Isn't he lovely? ...
And no, he's not naked, his shirt and pants are just white. Maybe I can knit him a blue scarf, then he'd be a patriotic gnome. Then again, gnomes might be too free of spirit to be tied to one country...
...and these are the beautiful stitch markers (bottom right) that Joan made. I actually didn't realize that she had also painted the bag and the candle holder too. But she did, and they're signed too! Thank you Joan!
Happy 4th!
And no, he's not naked, his shirt and pants are just white. Maybe I can knit him a blue scarf, then he'd be a patriotic gnome. Then again, gnomes might be too free of spirit to be tied to one country...
...and these are the beautiful stitch markers (bottom right) that Joan made. I actually didn't realize that she had also painted the bag and the candle holder too. But she did, and they're signed too! Thank you Joan!
Happy 4th!
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