some things make a post
Feb. 3rd, 2023 11:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kaberettWe got a couple of ripen-at-home avocadoes a week or so ago, which we were planning to use in a specific meal (Meera Sodha's sweet potato and tenderstem bibimbap; link only includes ingredients), because the grocer also let us place an order for purple sweet potatoes, about which concept A was very enthusiastic. Alas we were informed first that the purple sweet potatoes would be replaced by normal orange ones, and second that there wouldn't be any sweet potatoes of any colour at all, actually. AND SO this morning I cut up one of the avocadoes to put on our toast, and rather to my astonishment it was perfect. I am not used to ever having ripen-at-home avocadoes come out perfect! This was very welcome. (On my other slice of toast I had some more of the blood-orange-and-cardamom marmalade. It transpires that it was actually perfectly fine to add the cardamom at the point in cooking that I did -- it just needed a few weeks to actually infuse.)
For lunch: we finished this week's soup (leek, celeriac, parsnip, and one token potato) yesterday, but as previously mentioned I had earlier in the week acquired Reduced Fresh Basil, in a larger quantity than was required by the recipe it was purchased for (I cannot keep sweet basil alive and I don't understand why). The fridge contained a Fancy Mozzarella courtesy, I think, of my mother. The fridge also contained cherry tomatoes. So instead of the Soup we have been defaulting to for most of the past few months (though we did also have Welsh rabbit at the beginning of this week, thereby using up some more leeks...), we consumed some things that needed using, and very pleasant they were too.
And then this afternoon I went to collect the overlocker, despite our inability to lay our hands on A's collection of bungee straps. (I took the ratchet strap for the Tramper, and Papa's valise strap that is mostly used as a physiotherapy tool, and lots of carrier bags, and a big Bag For Life.) The person giving it away had a progress pride door mat (not actually this design, but something very like it); despite the misgivings of A & co, it did actually fit (more or less) in my pannier, so I cycled homeward very slowly along most of the flat bits, with occasional get-off-and-push, and walked up the hill at the end. There were suddenly crocuses everywhere; I bimbled along an unnecessary but very pleasant stretch of the canal, and was rewarded by seeing Canada geese dabbling (Köpfchen in das Wasser, Schwanzchen in die Höh!), and ducks dozing, and moorhens industriously contemplating architectural projects, and a swan stood at the end of the path stretching out its wings and only grudgingly condescending to let me pass. (And then I sproinged one of the bits of the overlocker on a fencepost on the very narrow footbridge, because I had a sudden panic about Needing To Hurry because there was somebody trying to come the other way. A has subsequently unsproinged it, because he is excellent, and I have elsewhere been reassured that those bits always wind up getting sproinged and It's Fine.)
Have a photo:
For lunch: we finished this week's soup (leek, celeriac, parsnip, and one token potato) yesterday, but as previously mentioned I had earlier in the week acquired Reduced Fresh Basil, in a larger quantity than was required by the recipe it was purchased for (I cannot keep sweet basil alive and I don't understand why). The fridge contained a Fancy Mozzarella courtesy, I think, of my mother. The fridge also contained cherry tomatoes. So instead of the Soup we have been defaulting to for most of the past few months (though we did also have Welsh rabbit at the beginning of this week, thereby using up some more leeks...), we consumed some things that needed using, and very pleasant they were too.
And then this afternoon I went to collect the overlocker, despite our inability to lay our hands on A's collection of bungee straps. (I took the ratchet strap for the Tramper, and Papa's valise strap that is mostly used as a physiotherapy tool, and lots of carrier bags, and a big Bag For Life.) The person giving it away had a progress pride door mat (not actually this design, but something very like it); despite the misgivings of A & co, it did actually fit (more or less) in my pannier, so I cycled homeward very slowly along most of the flat bits, with occasional get-off-and-push, and walked up the hill at the end. There were suddenly crocuses everywhere; I bimbled along an unnecessary but very pleasant stretch of the canal, and was rewarded by seeing Canada geese dabbling (Köpfchen in das Wasser, Schwanzchen in die Höh!), and ducks dozing, and moorhens industriously contemplating architectural projects, and a swan stood at the end of the path stretching out its wings and only grudgingly condescending to let me pass. (And then I sproinged one of the bits of the overlocker on a fencepost on the very narrow footbridge, because I had a sudden panic about Needing To Hurry because there was somebody trying to come the other way. A has subsequently unsproinged it, because he is excellent, and I have elsewhere been reassured that those bits always wind up getting sproinged and It's Fine.)
Have a photo:
(no subject)
Date: 2023-02-04 12:44 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2023-02-04 08:38 am (UTC)We are also definitely growing purple normal potatoes, if you want a tuber or two to chit and plant yourselves then let me know soon as I've just put all mine out to chit.
Sweet basil wants warmth and lots of sunlight, I can't keep it alive for very long at this time of year either and even on the southwest-facing windowsill in summer it isn't entirely happy (not enough light). Also the shop ones are basically crowded into one pot micro-greens style. At some point I will try getting a big pot and transplanting out all the little plantlets but there's not much point before May or June. I have successfully grown it as micro-greens at other times of year, sometimes under a grow light; Franchi Seeds do a mixed-variety basil pack that has loads and loads of seed in. (In general Franchi is good value: the seed packets are expensive, but they are also enormous. Not all their varieties do well for me.
(no subject)
Date: 2023-02-04 02:50 pm (UTC)I have fairly consistently not had the cope to Make Potatoes Go... but on the other hand I think A would be very enthusiastic. Hmm. Okay, I think: if it is easy and convenient, but please don't go out of your way!
Part of my frustration with basil is that my mother doesn't seem to have any problems keeping it going, and her windowsills are (generously) northwest facing -- but ah well.
(no subject)
Date: 2023-02-04 06:18 pm (UTC)Potatoes do quite well in 35L pots, FWIW. In the ground they are something of a menace to get rid of.
I'll put aside a couple of the Blue Annelise for you -- they are blight resistant as well as purple.
(no subject)
Date: 2023-02-04 08:16 pm (UTC)... I am convinced! Thank you lots <3
(no subject)
Date: 2023-02-04 10:43 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2023-02-04 01:03 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2023-02-04 06:12 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2023-02-04 08:16 pm (UTC)The North Atlantic Drift is pretty great!