Hardships? Maybe Some...

Someone recently commented to me, "I can't believe you've never had a manicure." My reply was something like, "I can't miss something I've never had." That was that. Today my mind drifted back to that comment so here I am again - writing about having, missing, wanting, needing - you get the idea.

I've never had a manicure, a pedicure, a relaxing massage, a facial, a waxing; what else is there I should include?

I have had a clothes washer and clothes drier. I haven't had either for the past 15 years. I miss them! Oops! Forgot that I don't have a "real" dishwasher anymore either.

I don't miss, want or need the personal care services, but I could make good use of a clothes washer! The trip to town is only five miles each way. There is a singular small laundromat there, but to it I go - every week or at least once every ten days.

Spring Summer

It seems to be such a waste of time, waiting for the process to be complete. In the warm weather, I hang clothes outdoors. Ummmmm! Good vibes and wonderful smells emit from freshly air dried laundry. In cold weather, there I wait and wait and wait, contemplating all sorts of projects yet to be completed at home.

Winter

It is what it is. My choice. It's FINE! YEP!

James is Ready for Winter

I used seven 14" sections for the scarf. You can't see the other colors (in back) of red and grey. I made them 12 inches wide. He is larger around than I thought! Maybe when it rains the fleece will stretch some more. It was cheap! $2.94 yard at Walmart. I bought only 12 inches of the seven colors and only used 1/4 of each color, so I have enough left over for 3 more scarves! That's why I used the colors I did. The patterned fleece was costlier. My sweater-cut-off-into-hat worked well. My pom-pom is attached with a very large safety pin (aluminum knitting holder). The yarn for the pom costs over half as much as the fleece! I remembered how to make them and made it large. All in all, I like it! We'll see how well it lasts through rain and snow. If it doesn't, well then I'll have to think up another way to keep him warm!

Now if it would only snow I could take another photo and use it for holiday greeting cards!

Persimmons Payoff

This September caper happened in a campground by the ocean in the state of South Carolina.

You would have loved to see me go to the one and only (that I could find) persimmon tree every early morning for two weeks to sit on my golf cart and wait for a persimmon to fall! Let me explain: There were many already on the ground, but they were bruised, rotting and bitten. The squirrels get to them first, leaving remains of seedless fruit everywhere - even on the picnic tables and electric hookup fixtures at the campsites.

As soon as I would see or hear one fall, I gathered it, put into my plastic cup and waited for another. After gathering about 5 each morning, I went home, washed and put my treasures in the refrigerator. One morning I even took a straw broom with me and whacked at the branch but none would release and fall! After I had two pounds of them, I had a friend find a persimmon jelly recipe on the internet and made jelly! (I went to another neighbor to weigh my fruit on her bathroom scale to be sure I had enough!) Looking back, I guess everyone knows by now that I'm harmless.

What a mess this project made with my meager kitchen equipment when making the pulp. It was sticky and gooey stuff everywhere, but I was determined. After the jelly had cooled and I tasted it, I didn't like it! Too sour. I added some more honey, took a roll of Pillsbury biscuits, flattened each out, put a glob of jelly in the middle, topped it with another flattened dough piece, pinched all around, dunked in sugar and baked TARTS! Now THEY were delicious! I shared with my assistants - researcher and weighmaster, who also agreed wonders will never cease.

The end of this story is that another neighbor told me she has tubs of the stuff frozen at home in NC and will bring some to me the next time. Well, she did and then proceeded to share her persimmon pudding that she baked for me to taste. It's really a cake and delicious. I now have her recipe and will share it. She also will bring me more tubs when we're both at our beach places in South Carolina so I don't have to make my own pulp again! Whew!