Accentuate the positive

Checking in with a few random notes.

• I ordered a laptop from the Buy One/Give One program of One Laptop Per Child. We've been following the OLPC program for years and happy to see that it is moving forward. Be a philanthropist and a geek at the same time for only $424 including shipping ($200 is tax deductible).



• I made Pumpkin Soup with Smoked Paprika from Elise's Simply Recipes blog and it was delicious.



• Progress on the Cambridge Jacket! I got the sleeves seamed acceptably and cut the steek and sewed in a zipper. By hand. My first zipper installation and it worked. The sweater fits Franz well and just needs a collar. How long will that take?
  



• I've been knitting other things as well, including lots of progress on the Large Triangle from VLT.
  



• Erika and I are doing well with our Hand Dyed Yarn Adventure. We've collectively sold 52 skeins of hand-dyed yarn. Oops, make that 53!
  

Gardening requires optimism

Will we get enough sun for tomatoes? Will these tiny starts grow and produce by August? Will I water them enough to keep them healthy but not too much nor too sporadically so that the fruit cracks? Will this year's staking job work to hold them up or will it just break their stems? Will I be able to keep them weeded?




Will the crows leave the basil alone? Will I keep the container watered and the flowers pinched? Will we have enough for pesto?





Will my raspberries survive their recent move? Will they flourish in their new spot? Will they get enough water? Will I get a pie?




Tasty has shown a surprising appetite for strawberry leaves! Will the cover keep her off the leaves and the squirrels off the fruit?





Will Dumbledore compliment my agapanthus?

Farmer's Market

Nancy took me to the farmer's market today. Although it is about two miles from home, I embarrassingly admit that I only attend occasionally. Good finds today. I got some fresh ricotta from Sea Breeze Farm and from some wild foraging dude, some urtica dioica. Along with my very fresh Tasty eggs, I'll turn this into manicotti filling. Sounds yummy, eh? And full of vitamins.

Erika, if you want, I'll save you a piece.

noodly oodly oodles

Noodles for dinner can be a messy proposition.






Or not. For this tasty treat we owe thanks to Mr. Momofuku Ando who recently died at age 96.

A homage.