#Moosewood2022, part 4 - May and June

Continuing on with the Moosewood 2022 Challenge... 

May

Recipe #15: Tomato Curry (new), page 175

I was saving this one for the glut of summer tomatoes, but Hubba and I both bought tomatoes in the last few days.  So we're starting out May with another delicious curry...

I'm glad that I'm tracking this as we go.  Because at the end of May, I thought I had made zero Moosewood recipes this month... Don't worry, we're not starving.... just eating other things.  ;-)

June

Recipe #16: Eggplant Scallopini Marsala (new), page 83

I don't know what makes it "Scallopini" but this is delicious... even if I had to improvise on the Basil and use a blend of Italian Spices that we received as a Christmas gift.  I didn't bother to check our inventory, because who doesn't have Dried Basil in their pantry?  Me, that's who... and the settling in from the move continues.  lol.

In looking at the Dictionary, Scallopini means thin slices of meat sauteed or fried... however, my eggplant is diced, and not meat, so technically this dish is not scallopini.  ;-)

Stats:

• 12 + 2 = 14 (new) = new-to-me recipe...  ie, one I have not made before
• 2 + 0 = 2 (standard) = recipes I have made frequently over the years, because we love it so much
• 0 + 0 = 0 (repeat) = previously made in the #Moosewood2022 challenge

16 Total Recipes as of Month #6 and Week #26 of the year.  So while I've slowed down significantly, I'm still ahead of my overall goal of 2 per month.

Thoughts on Roe v Wade and the ERA

 When I was coming up there was a lot of talk about the Equal Right Amendment (ERA).

We were told, that companies would do the right thing by women, and therefore the ERA did not need to become an Amendment to the Constitution.

50 years after it's inception, not only have women NOT achieved parity, but today, we no longer have authority over our bodies.

Over the years I've seen decisions for companies such as Hobby Lobby to prevent Birth Control from being covered by company-provided health insurance.... when even the employees pay a significant portion of the premium.

We see society (right-wing, especially) saying that people just need to work harder... that if they could not afford to care for those children they should not have had them in the first place.... when the other hand is removing the safe guards.

We see a constant push against funding for health care, education, clean air, water, technology... all things that would make being a human and caring for human children easier.

We see a push to remove "entitlements" such as Social Security and Medicare... even though they are not "entitlements," we pay for them with every single pay check received.

I have been a feminist since I learned what the word meant.  It was a derogatory term at the time, but it was clear to me, at that young age, that I and I alone, was responsible for my personal care and well-being.  I have been fortunate to find an excellent partner in life, but that is not true for everyone I know.

This is a sad, sad moment in our country.

There are so many other things to say, but let me finish with this...

If you think that you don't know anyone who has been raped, had an abortion, or been sexually harassed, or discriminated because of their gender... Know that you do know women who have experienced all of these things.... You just don't know any women who trust you enough to tell you about it.

Fiber Arts Friday: Save Our Sheep Sweater, part 10

After finishing up the Tunis Breed Band and eeking out the last few rows with balls of yarn attached in all three sections.

I began with Gulf Coast.   I decided to start with the smallest ball first... theoretically, if my spinning is consistent, the smallest ball will be the limiter on the breed band and I should not end up having to add rows to section that have been "completed."

At this point, I have both sleeves finished with the Gulf Coast Band and have started on the Body.

While the first two breed bands were very similar in color, this Gulf Coast is much more white and much more springy.  I will definitely need to get more of this fleece.

I will keep it close for cool mornings, but this has already slowed way down due to the hotter weather.

        

But because I am me, I figured out how many rounds remain (80+70x2+14), where the remaining Breed Bands will fall, and whether I am using yarn at the rate I expected...

Assuming I'll be able to make some progress over the summer, it will likely be September/October by the time this sweater is complete.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday... and Happy Summer!!

Fiber Arts Friday: Save Our Sheep Sweater, part 9

Beginning today after the sleeve divide and working the remainder of the Tunis Breed Band on the Body, I put the whole SOS Sweater on Stich Holders and tried her on.

I'm happy to report that she is fitting appropriately for this stage.  :-)

I then continued the Breed Band for the Sleeves separately, and a few weeks later, I am complete with the Tunis.

I loved working with this yarn far more that I thought I might (which is saying a lot). So I purchased a couple of raw fleeces for another project.

While, in person, the color is almost exactly the same between the Clun Forest and Tunis, I think you can see that the stitch definition is different... especially on the Back Photo.

This is going to be really interesting to see after blocking.

Next Up is Gulf Coast.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Save Our Sheep Sweater, part 8

Picking up my Save our Sheep Sweater with Tunis, after TINKing out Navajo Churro.

The Tunis has brought me to the divide for the sleeves.

This stitch count mostly matches... and I believe I understand why it does not.

So I am ready to place another lifeline and then divide out the sleeves.

Working with the Tunis is very different than the Navajo Churro.  Tunis is so much more springy and stretchy.  It's quite remarkable for a wool that looks almost exactly the same as the Clun Forest.... the safety pin marks the start of the Tunis yarn.

The Tunis is much nicer to knit with than the Navajo Churro.... my thoughts are both that I'd like to still include it in this sweater, but also to reserve it for a weaving.

Next up is to knit three sections of the sweater at the same time.... body + 2 sleeves.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!!

COVID - Math

I wasn't planning on doing a series, but here we are...

I recently listed to this podcast episode by Seth Godin.  I've always liked his matter of fact style and recently learned that he was an engineer before becoming a marketer and educator.  So, I suppose that contributes to why I appreciate his process.

This episode was published just over a year ago, on May 26, 2021, as the Covid Vaccines were just becoming widely available in the US.

So listen to the first 9 minutes with the knowledge that our mRNA vaccines are 91-94% effective and more than 1 million Americans have died from the Covid-19 virus.

Of course, you can listen to the entire episode.  You don't have to only listen to the first 9 minutes... but just know that minutes 10 - 21 are questions and answers about previous episodes.  While also worthwhile, they are on a different subject.

Stay Healthy my Friends.

COVID - The Fallacy of Your Circle of Friends

Part of the recent conversations about Covid that prompted Thursday's post is that people tend to not to want to mask or maintain distance with people they know well.

So here's another simple analysis.

Let's assume I have a circle of 5 friends.... Me, Hubba, and 3 other people we know very well.

Since we're not actually a Cohort, our friends have their own small circle of trusted friends...

And so do theirs...

Eventually someone gets Covid (or the Flu, or some other infectious communicable disease).  Since we trust our friends implicitly, let's assume its one of their Friend's Friend's Friends, because we don't know that person.

And then this is how I would get sick.

You should be able to see how this can get complex quickly... especially if you work with other people in an office, retail store, or restaurant or have larger "Circles of Friends." 

I believe that most of us know this, but sometimes I think it's helpful to step thru the logic.

Also, most of us know that Government Mask Mandates are primarily about reducing the flow of patients thru the hospitals.

For the record.... my county and most of the Colorado Front Range has been in the High Risk Category, per the CDC, for the last few weeks.... AND while I work from home, my organization has re-mandated masking in the office and on our sites because there is untraceable community spread within the staff.

In my opinion, we should all be concerned about slowing the infection rate.

Slowing the infection rate slows the mutation rate of the virus... Conversly, the more the virus infects people, the more opportunity it has to evolve/mutate, and thereby migrating further away from the original variant, which therefore will make the vaccines the less effective.

Each variant of the virus presents a new opportunity for infection...  We personally know multiple people who have been infected multiple times.  

Hopefully this, again, illustrates why we continue to wear masks, maintain distance, and limit interactions... and why I think you should too.

This link takes you to a nice graphic and trend data reporting by the Mayo Clinic.

Stay Healthy my friends.

Fiber Arts Friday: The Box o' Unfinished Projects

I've referred to this box several times over the last couple of years...

The Lower One (the Upper is #SE2SE)

So now that we're on the other side of selling our former place, the creative juices are flowing, and I mentioned thee need to reclaim some tools last week... I decided it was time to deal with the Box.  sigh.

Spindle-spun Cashmere

This has been in slow (SLOW!) progress for quite some time, and will continue to move forward in this fashion.

Small Alpaca Tapestry Weaving

This small tapestry loom was part of an early class I took when we were new to alpaca.  I will reclaim this yarn for my Scrappy Palindrome.

Reclaiming Awesome Sweater Yarn

This also has been a long time project. 

I was dismayed that the sweater was steeked, but I will continue to reclaim this yarn for some future, unidentified project.

Nightcap

I loved working on this pattern and I used reclaimed yarn from a favorite sweater.

I think this one will stay as a reminder of the importance of gauge verses intended final measurements.

Baby Rudolf Hat

This was made with same reclaimed yarn as the Nightcap.  I like the finished fabric, but this hat is not long enough and the antler+ear placement has always bothered me.  Which is why it's still un-finished.

The yarn is being moved to my stash, the small bits are being made available for stuffing, and the hat has gone to the trash.

Rill Scarf

I really like this pattern and yarn.  But I do not like this fabric.  Every time I work on it, I think about ripping it out.

I'm into the third skein and I think about all the work I've already done, then I  decide to just muscle thru... But the reality is that I will like it more if the fabric is less stiff.  Sunk Costs be damned!!  So this one will be frogged (ripped out) and then re-started with larger needles.

New Normal Socks

Using the left over yarn from the New Normal Scarf, I embarked upon a pair of fun socks.

This yarn is thicker than I normally use, and it did not occur to me to adjust for that until I got into the heel.  I don't have enough stitches available to make my standard heel.... so I need to spend some time thinking about either a different heel strategy or adjusting where I make the instep.

This project is going on the shelf, for now.

Alpaca Experiment

I love this yarn and the fabric.  However, this project was my first attempt at designing something and it really isn't working.

I kept hoping that I might come back to it, but that is just not happening... and frankly, I already reclaimed the needles from it some time ago.  So this yarn will be reclaimed and returned to stash.

Pussy Hats

During the years of 45, this was all I could work on.  I ended up making a bunch of Pussy Hats and gave several of them away.

I thought I was done making these. So I frogged the in-progress one and then the Supreme Court leaked that they are planning to overturn Roe v. Wade.  Which means the pink yarn is likely to come back out.  grrrr.

Ugly Crocheted Scarf

It's actually not too ugly, but this was one of the first projects I did when I returned to yarn-related activities as an adult.  My gauge is all over the place.

This scarf was to be a gift, but it wasn't good enough (in my opinion) so it's been sitting here for way too long.

I really like the yarn, so this one will be frogged.

Improvised Hat

I really like the ideas I explored in this hat, but it needs to be larger.  I will write this pattern down, then remake it in a larger size.

Others

There are a few others that I'm not ready to talk about here.... These have been placed into a staging area.

There is a tray each for Frogging, Spinning, Continue/Finish, Weaving, and Design Finalization.

With everything now being dispositioned and sorted, the Box o' Unfinished Projects is empty!  WooHoo!!

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!!

COVID - Exposure Analysis

I've had some interesting conversations about Covid over recent weeks.  So I decided to do a simple analysis of my behavior....  Especially since Shearing Day is coming up which is very difficult to reschedule.

There are a variety of recommendations which change by variant.  So these are the assumptions I used for this analysis:

• The Incubation Period is 3-7 days.
• The Contagious Period is 3 days ahead and 10-20 days after symptoms present.
• The most contagious day is the day BEFORE symptoms present
• Testing is recommended at 5 days after symptoms present.
• Every interaction* outside of my household is a potential exposure.

* Not included in this analysis are visits to the Grocery/Feed/Hardware Stores or Gas Stations because I do not have these on my calendar and therefore have not been tracking them.

I took inventory of my interactions* outside of my immediate family for the month-ish prior to Shearing Day.  These have been categorized into Classes, Vet/Dog Show, Other Events, and Shearing Day.

First, here is the Conservative Model, or assuming everything happens at the latest date:

And here's the Short Model, or assuming everything happens at the earliest date:

So taking the bounds of both models and rolling everything up, we see this:

The short answer: of 36 days reviewed, I was/will be potentially the most contagious for all but 6 days.

Hopefully, this illustrates why we are still wearing masks and limiting interactions outside of our household... and why I think you should too.

Stay healthy my friends.