Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags

Misc.

Dec. 9th, 2008 12:11 pm
helwen: (Default)
[personal profile] helwen
Feeling fairly human today. Busy days eventually lead to a zombie day (that would be yesterday). We got a windup clock from Lehmans and at first we weren't sure if we would be able to deal with the ticking. Mind you, we'd both had windup clocks when we were younger (and the same one too -- red body with a yellow smiley face), but it just seemed... loud. Amazingly, although the ticking sometimes seems incredibly loud right after we turn out the lights, suddenly we're asleep! And, aside from Saturday night when we were still too wound up from Yule and Roz decided she needed to wake us up 4 times, it's been some of the best sleep I've had in a while. Hm.

We haven't tried the alarm yet though. Those bells are kinda scary, and this is the type of clock where the switch is on top by the bells, instead of a push-in knob on the back, so it may take a little longer to turn off. Currently we're opting for leaving a window shade partially raised :D

***
Ran the woodstove most of yesterday and into the night. The fire was out by the time we checked on it, but the apartment was still quite tolerable. The applesauce came out wonderfully, took about 3 hours just simmering on the stove top. The cats adore the stove, of course!

It's warmer today, but having the stove going when it was 9F outside was very nice!

***
Slacked on focused exercising last week because of Yule and the festival, which definitely showed last night when I picked up my weensy 2-lb. weights again. Still, managed to do all the standing exercises as well as some aerobic exercise. Need to continue working on putting things away from this past weekend so there's space for the floor exercises. Got in some aerobic exercise again this morning too!

Read something this week that said the most effective way to control one's appetite was a combination of aerobic and strength training. Not generally a problem for me, but interesting to read. I'm interested in getting stronger so I can get back into fighting, archery, and biking without worrying about damaging something.

***
Just enough bread left for sandwiches for lunch today. Then I get to make soup for dinner! I have a can of tomato soup hanging out in the pantry, some leftover ground beef (the last of last year's grass-fed beef pickup), and hm, nettles, kale, maybe an onion, a bit of pepper might be nice too. And some potatoes because of couple of them are thinking about growing (eyes). Hm. Or maybe rice and do up the potatoes separately...

Also need to make some jello salad. Scary-sounding to some folks, I know, but I still have a container of cottage cheese in the fridge and some chopped celery, so... and it's practically a meal by the time you're done making it. Lime jello, cottage cheese, evap. milk, pineapple, chopped walnuts and diced celery.

***
Oh, learned how to properly use beeswax pillar candles. They are the opposite of paraffin pillars. Instead of having them lit for a long time so they'll burn out to the edge, you should keep the wick short (less hot than a long wick) and _not_ burn them for long periods of time. If the wax melts too fast in the center it just goes down and the perimeter of the candle forms a wall. I generally use tapers, but I did get another pillar at Pennsic because I just couldn't resist, sigh.

And I got a gorgeous pine cone-shaped one this past weekend, which we will light at some point, but for now I'm just enjoying looking at it and smelling it. Ah!

Date: 2008-12-09 05:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bytchearse.livejournal.com
Let me know how that clock works; was eyeing one myself after many years of electrics. I find the ticking very soothing and good white noise. And there is NO WAY you'll sleep through the bells!

Thanks!

Date: 2008-12-09 07:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bytchearse.livejournal.com
I missed the Jell-o part of the post until it was pointed out to me. I see you're one of *those* people ;-D

Re: Thanks!

Date: 2008-12-09 08:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] helwen.livejournal.com
?? Someone pointed it out?

Yes, I am indeed one of *those* people! My mom's been making jello things at least since I was a kid. Loosecanon says it sounds like a 50s thing, but I can't speak to that, being neither a serious cook historian nor old enough to know. We just figured it was one of her ways of sneaking nutritious stuff in that we otherwise wouldn't touch :D

Re: Thanks!

Date: 2008-12-09 09:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bytchearse.livejournal.com
Sarahbyrdd mentioned it to me since she & I have been discussing "retro" foods for a small gathering this weekend. Many people have mentioned Jello or such salads :-)

Loosecanon is correct, although such things persisted well into the 70's!

Re: Thanks!

Date: 2008-12-09 10:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] helwen.livejournal.com
Ah! In which case, since a lot of folks like mandarin oranges, you might want to look at this:
http://helwen.livejournal.com/228944.html

Plus, I also give some directions with it.

If using a jello mold instead of leaving it in its dish, I believe you subtract a 1/4 cup of liquid. Should say on the box.

Nice to know the history... and now you know that at least a few people are carrying on the tradition ;)

Date: 2008-12-09 08:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lyanna-beth.livejournal.com
"And I got a gorgeous pine cone-shaped one this past weekend, which we will light at some point,"

Light it at Solstice - it seems appropriate. :)

I have battery-operated ticking clocks in three rooms in the house, and I love them. I even pulled the digital alarm clock, because it bothered me when I woke in the middle of the night and realised just how much sleep I wasn't getting. :( If I need the alarm, I'll plug it back in, but since for the majority of days in the year I don't need an alarm clock, it's staying off.

And I did use your advice and put the microwave and TV on a power-bar, so I can turn them off when I don't need them, and my power bill was definitely down this past session.
Thanks.

Date: 2008-12-09 08:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] helwen.livejournal.com
Yes, I was thinking Solstice would be a good time :)

Yay for saving energy! Besides, those dollars are better spent on other things, like tasty food or a good book ;)

Date: 2008-12-09 08:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lyanna-beth.livejournal.com
Those are - most definitely - THE best things on which to spend money! :)

Profile

helwen: (Default)
helwen

December 2024

S M T W T F S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Page generated Jul. 31st, 2025 09:04 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios