Glimpses of a slow day
I’ve spent today pottering around my flat, not doing very much but messing with a few things.
Little works in progress sitting in the sun. They happen to match in colour, I think I bought these yarns a possible accent yarns for a long abandoned project, but have no other real connection.
Clearing out a cupboard and actually putting the stuff back. Mostly such organisational projects create more mess than there was in the first place. This little alcove in my kitchen has just become my living room and freed up the space that the giant armchair was taking up in the real living room which I’m now tentatively calling a studio.
Staining my hands pink making beetroot risotto, at least I had the sense not to try and chop it on my wooden chopping board. The recipe, which of course I’ve followed only loosely, was in the newsletter that came with my vegetables this week. I’ll let you know what it’s like tomorrow and share the recipe if it’s good. I think my favourite thing about this organic box thing, which I’ve only been doing for a few weeks, is the instant connection to the seasons it creates, I’m looking forward to seeing what appears over the year. I have more beetroot and wondered about dyeing some wool with it, but a little googling has convinced me that it would only be a disappointment. Where’s the fun if it would only end up yellow or beige?
I hope you’re having a good Sunday my dears, at whatever sort of pace.
Posted: October 7th, 2007 under knitting.
Comments: 16
Comments
Comment from Sarah
Time: October 7, 2007, 8:33 pm
What box scheme are you using? I keep thinking about signing up to one, but I’m never sure how they’d feel about delivering to the second floor of a tenement - or even if they *could* deliver when we’re not in (the one I used at my dad’s house it could be left in the garden - ah, if only we had a garden here!)
Comment from christine
Time: October 7, 2007, 8:48 pm
Haven’t tried beetroot to dye, but have had to grab a jar of the pickled stuff when I was dyeing and realised I didn’t have enough normal vinegar. Also had to use vinegar from a jar of cornichons.
We used a box scheme for a good while - I think it came from Pillars of Hercules - but found that the quality of the fruit, apples especially, just wasn’t up to par. How has the fruit been so far for you?
Comment from Alice from france
Time: October 7, 2007, 8:50 pm
The beginning of an elefant is great! Remember me that i knited one for my ex few years ago. And, ho, i loooove beetroot!
My sunday was good thanks to care Ysolda! I have to feed sheep from school’s farm, it was my mission for the last four days! It was great, even if the hungry sheep or the non hungry one are really noisy! And giving some milk to the tiny lambs it’s always a great things to do!
Comment from mai
Time: October 7, 2007, 8:52 pm
YUM! i LOVE beets! they’re nature’s candy :)
Comment from Jessica
Time: October 7, 2007, 11:34 pm
That elephant is adorable. :)
Comment from Elin
Time: October 8, 2007, 1:21 am
I definately know what you mean about things getting worse before they get better when cleaning/organising. I always end up with a much bigger mess than when I started out and then when I’ve finally put everything away, there’s always something left that doesn’t have a “home”. It always ends up being chucked in somewhere haphazardly, kind of negating the whole organisation thing in the first place.
Comment from Danielle
Time: October 8, 2007, 1:28 am
In my experience, beet actually washes off wooden cutting boards pretty quickly. Everything ELSE in the kitchen… that’s another story.
Comment from Emily
Time: October 8, 2007, 7:17 am
I dyed some undyed wool with the juice leftover after steaming red beets. It turned a very bright mustard yellow.
Comment from Clare
Time: October 8, 2007, 7:52 am
I really wanted in on an organic box scheme, but there are only two running in my city. One is *terribly* expensive (more than double what I currently pay for fruit and veg, with extra fees for swapping things in an out). The much cheaper one, that allowed you to make lists of Things What You Don’t Like To Eat for free doesn’t deliver to where I live :(
Comment from Sarah
Time: October 8, 2007, 10:18 am
Oooh yes, do let us know about the organic boxes. I think when I come back from my holiday I’m going to sign up to one.
Comment from Ühltje
Time: October 8, 2007, 1:02 pm
I hope you like it, because I can actually use a good (imaginative) recipe for beetroot. We’ve got plenty in the garden at the moment. It is among the few things that grew well this summer.
Comment from minxxy
Time: October 8, 2007, 2:18 pm
Hi there,
Your work looks amazing. I was wondering if you could recommend a book I could read about vegetarianism. My 13 year old daughter is going down that path and I want to be suppoertive while making sure the growing girl has all her nutrients
Comment from Ruth
Time: October 8, 2007, 3:40 pm
Here’s my all-time favorite beet recipe from one of my all-time favorite cookbooks. It’s the most beautiful color, and tasty!
Pureed Beet Salad (aka “Beet Hummus”)
from Madhur Jaffrey’s World Vegetarian cookbook
1 good-sized beet (about 6 oz.) or 2 smaller ones
4 tablespoons chopped walnuts
1 slice of stale white bread (you can use a small boiled potato instead)
1 garlic clove, peeled and coarsely chopped
6 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp. salt, or to taste
Cover the beet well with water and boil until it is tender, about 40 minutes. Drain. Peel and chop coarsely.
In the container of an electric blender or food processor, combine the beet, walnuts, bread, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, and salt. Blend until smooth.
Comment from Heather
Time: October 8, 2007, 4:22 pm
Congratulations on taking the “studio” step. It is super important in a creative person’s life to have a working space.
Comment from Jen
Time: October 8, 2007, 6:08 pm
Hmm, I dyed some pale grey wool with beetroot dye I’d mixed up for Easter eggs last spring and my yarn came out a pretty intense pink. It’s faded some since I didn’t think to mordant the yarn first, but it’s still pretty darn pink. I think dying some yourself would be worth a try. I’d highly recommend mordanting first though…
Comment from disentangled
Time: October 8, 2007, 9:25 pm
I get an organic veggie delivery as well and besides the fresh, seasonal veggies and fruits, I love the inspiration it provides to try new things and in new ways.
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