REPAIRING A MARKET BASKET-ELLIOTT-EDDIE-SHORTY AND SAM

GREETINGS

Its gently snowing today and won;’t amount to much.  Its much milder but the bitter cold is coming back tonight and lasting for days.  More wood will be brought in and stacked on the porch today.

This is how Shorty handles a blizzard

REPAIRING A MARKET BASKET

In the late 80’s and early 90’s I made lots of baskets.  I found a kindred spirit in basket making, spinning, weaving and now rug hooking in my friend Deb. We have had many adventures over the years and I especially remember one such adventure in the wilds of New Hampshire where we learned to pound ash.  It was something we both  remember with laughter and wonderful baskets.  

This market basket was on the porch full of wool in a  sad state of disrepair.

 

 I brought it in and luckily I had the materials I needed to fix it.

It only took an hour or so and now I have a usable basket again.

In the spring I plan to make some willow baskets from my willow.  

ELLIOTT’S NEW DIGS

Thought I would show you Elliott;s new area

Sally would love to get in there to eat the grain.

DDIE

I have renamed Morticia’s son Eddie.  The name suits him.

 Yesterday I purchased a mirror for him.  He had to be separated from his sister and Mom, he was getting so unruly.  In many articles I have read the mirror will entertain him.  He is enjoying it and talking to it.

 When Chris comes all will join him in the box room in separate cages .  In the summer Eddie will rejoin his family outside.

Sammy is enjoying is favorite activity, bird watching.

 

Many thanks for reading my blog today and I hope you have a wonderful day.   Carole

 

OAT STRAW-REFRiGERATOR DILL PICKLES-UPDATE ON MINNIE

Hello,

 

Oat Straw

Carolyn called me and said that Joe had cut some of the oat straw.  I had mentioned to them both that on one of my trips to Ireland I visited a basket-maker who lives near Bantry.  In his shop was the cutest chicken nesting basket, out of straw. Since that time I have wanted to make one.  Finally I bought Joe Hogan’s book of basket making in Ireland and in there found several.   They are made somewhat like bee skeps.   So with Joe’s book and some bee skep instructions printed from the internet I went up to their farm today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 It will take time and a few nesting baskets to get the rhythm of the handling of the straw.   It was a fun afternoon and I did take some straw home to finish it.   I will plant some oat straw soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mine is the odd shaped one.  It will be a very whimsical made especially for  Mrs. Brown.  Carolyn is going to finish hers off as a bee skep.

 

Refrigerator Dill Pickles

I made a couple of jars this morning and ran out of salt so I will finish them tonight.  It’s easy to do.  This is how I made them.

Cucumbers                                                                                                          

1/2 cup of salt

1 dill stem

1 grape leaf

equal parts vinegar and water

2 large cloves of garlic, sliced

In clean large jars I put the dill and garlic  on the bottom and the grape leaf on the side.  Mix the vinegar and water with the salt and stir.  You can either cut the cukes or leave them whole and put them in the jar.  Fill the jar with the vinegar/water mix and cover.  Keep refrigerated.

 

MINNIE

I think she is doing well with the move.  Hope she continues to do so.

Many thanks for reading my blog today and I hope you have a wonderful day.  Carole