Quick catch up...

Tuesday
June 28, 2011

 Hi,

It's been untypically slow at work for a few weeks. Not sure why since the census is up, but I have been finding myself with empty pockets of time lately. Maybe I'm just working more efficiently. :)

Shelby and I have been accepted as vendors for a Pagan Pride Festival at the Bradley Palmer State Park in September. I've never been to the park or the festival, but any chance to sell my jewelry works for me! We are borrowing a canopy from where she works and buying two folding tables (also from where she works). We will share a space this time and see how it goes. The good thing about the tables is that we can use them over and over again if we register to participate in school or church fairs year round. Now, I must get busy making stuff because a lot of my current inventory is in a local gift shop.

I started reading The Passage a couple of weeks ago. The plot is odd, but the writing and story line keep me reading. It's a BIG book (nearly 800 pgs) and I borrowed it from the library. Since I only read at night, I will probably have to renew it a couple of times. Has anyone read it? Just wondering if it is worth plugging away at. You know... so many books, so little time and all. 

After what seems like weeks and weeks of rain, we have had a couple of fair, dry, sunny days in a row. Maybe the mold between my toes will finally dry out. A very rainy spring, that's for sure. After the snowy winter we had, I can't imagine there will be a water shortage any time this summer. 

 In another effort to be a bit more eco-friendly, I am buying an outdoor clothesline. I don't dry my clothes in a dryer now, but I'd love to hang my sheets outside again. They smell so damned good when they've been dried in the sun and air. I'll have childhood flashbacks, I'm sure. Barb was excited when I told her about it and offered to pay half (which I won't accept). Right now, she drapes a few items here and there on the railings. I'd (seriously) love to just go back to the 50's...sigh.

 Hey, if anyone has had any experience with harvesting and drying/freezing fresh herbs, I'd appreciate an email with what has worked for you. My herbs are getting leggy and it's time to start snipping, but I'm not finding a lot of help online. I have chives, parsley, basil, thyme, sage, winter savory and oregano. One place said to snip and chop, then put in ice cube trays with water and freeze. When you need a bit of oregano, just pop the cube into the pot. Some places said to blanch first, then freeze on a plate and bag. Some said to hang by the stems until they dry, then crumble and put in jars with a good seal. I am trying that with some parsley, but it looks to me like it is just turning yellow/brown and dying, not drying.

Emma got strep throat the last week of school and spent the first day of summer vacation in the ER because of an allergic reaction to amoxycillin. Scared the bejeezus out of me when I saw her picture on Facebook. Hooked up to an oxygen sensor, her eyes swollen shut. She started to have a hard time breathing about 15 minutes after taking the med, then the swelling came on. Not a good way to start the summer!  

Well, I need to get to the market, so... adios amigos.

Peace,

Kay

 

 

Comments

[Darenna Rainsdon]

Kay, when you figure out the herb stuff, please share. My herbs are the same, leggy. I didn't know that was the term but I like it. My rosemary is especially in need of harvesting. I love it but don't use it enough to keep up with the growth. I think I might have more luck hang-drying it than you as sometimes the humidity drops to 10%.
Love,
-BD