We Have A Beautiful Mother

                                                              We have a beautiful
                                                              Mother
                                                              Her hills
                                                              Are buffaloes'
                                                              Her buffaloes
                                                              Hills.

                                                             We have a beautiful
                                                             Mother
                                                             Her oceans
                                                             Are wombs
                                                             Her wombs
                                                             Oceans.

                                                             We have a beautiful
                                                             Mother
                                                             Her teeth
                                                             The white stones
                                                             At the edge
                                                             Of the water
                                                             The summer
                                                             Grasses
                                                             Her plentiful
                                                             Hair.

                                                             We have a beautiful
                                                             Mother
                                                             Her green
                                                             Lap immense
                                                             Her brown embrace
                                                             Eternal
                                                             Her blue body
                                                             Everything
                                                             We know.

                                                                Alice Walker

Getting caught up

The last month or so has just been a whirlwind around here. I really have to pull myself down from the clouds and get back to business. Monkey business would be good, I think.

 I finished the socks... well over a week ago, and just a wee bit past the first day of spring. They please me. And yes, my legs really are that white. The color of the socks is accurate too. Have a new, simple pair started.  Need to get something bigger on the needles too. But what? Hmm.

Everybody's doing it!

 When I learned how easy it is to make butter, I had to try. I've made it three times now. Successfully. I have also wanted to learn to make some simple cheeses. I have a few recipes, and one is made with the "butter milk" that is a by product of butter making. In the past I have used this milk in pancakes and biscuits. Now I want to make cheese.

 The instructions are pretty simple. Heat the milk to 160-180 degrees and strain. The milk should separate into curds and whey when heated. Simple... again! I don't get curds and whey. After long minutes and increasing the temperature...I get milk stuck in the bottom of my pot. I find myself wondering if this cheese is Scottish in origin?

A good time was had by all.

There was much exploring .....

..... and running .....

..... and digging ....

..... and a little romance.

Re charging

A little knitting therapy

It feels good to have a little time for knitting again. Finished the first sock and started the second. They knit up quickly and I expect to have a pair of nice warm fair isle socks by the first day of spring. I love irony.

Looking forward.

Glad to have this behind me. Now I can start doing something more interesting. But first I think I better do a little cleaning. Ugh.