Monday, December 27, 2021

Little Lovelies And So Forth


I went to town today and Lily, who was at work, had brought the presents AND the fruitcake that I'd left in her kitchen Christmas night. And there is the tiny sweater in better detail. Isn't it just the loveliest? Can you see the blanket stitch around the neck and sleeves and hem? The monkey behind it is a lamp that I bought many, many years ago and there is actually a baby monkey there too although you can't see it. It was one of those purchases where you think, "I do not need this," but something inside of you whispers that yes, yes you do, and if you do buy it, you might find yourself many years later being so glad that you did. 
I think I might put that little sweater in a frame. It deserves one. And that would protect it from the dust and the mildew and the moths and the...
Everything. 
I just adore it. That is such a May thing to make. 

While I was running my errands, I stopped by Jessie's to deliver one of the boy's mats that they sleep on here. Vergil's family has come to visit and a niece or nephew will be sleeping on it. It is going to be BIG doin's over there this week with Vergil's mother, step-dad, sister, her husband and their three children. The mountain family. I know they will all be so happy to see each other. Since it's going to be warm this week, trips can be taken to the beach and to Wakulla Springs, the Wacissa- who knows? Florida in the winter is not a bad place to be, even if it's preternaturally warm. At least the mosquitoes are not tormenting us nor the yellow flies or no-see-ums. And the mountain people will probably appreciate the warmth. 

I keep researching this whole air fryer thing. Honestly, what it is, is a convection oven (and I have one of those already) but a convection oven with more concentrated heat and a stronger air flow. Which is cool. The main problem is the space of it which is not huge. So it'll be fine for the chicken breasts I'm going to cook tonight but if I want to do, oh, say, a mess of "fried" squash, I'll have to do it in batches. Honestly, I'm a bit daunted. But I'm going to try the chicken idea tonight. And we so need to get back to some healthier foods. I've just been New York Times-ing it with delicious recipes for chicken with the skin on (the horror!) and other things with plenty of butter and olive oil and oh! who cares what all? And all of that would be fine if we were doing Keto or something and didn't eat grains and breads made of grains but I'll be damned if I'm giving up those things. 
Sigh. 
I used to have such strong will power and determination. Now I just loathe myself and the way I look and make another loaf of sourdough. Let's not even talk about walking which I seem to have abandoned. But here comes the New Year when yes, Linda Sue, we all make outrageous promises about taking better care of ourselves and making healthy choices and changes and then we never do. I gave up on New Year's resolutions a long time ago. My two favorite ones that I ever made were to try and wear less black and more colors, and to try and say, "Cocksucker!" more often. 
I didn't even succeed at those! 

The refrigerator repairman is coming tomorrow, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise. By the time it's fixed I MAY have stopped opening the broken, empty refrigerator instead of the one in the hallway where the food actually is. 
Habit is a beast. 

Here are some flowers from today. 
A pink rose:


Isn't it lovely? And yes, yes it is. But the weird thing is that this rose bush makes white blooms. Can you see the one behind it?
Like this one.


I am sure there's a reasonable explanation but I do not know it. 

And here are some pink perfections. 


They are going crazy right now! 

Guess I'll go air fry some chicken. I'll let you know how it turns out. 

Love...Ms. Moon

35 comments:

  1. Let's get this right Mrs Moon. You say that the air fryer is cool! Shouldn't it be hot?

    Lovely roses and in December too. Delightful.

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    1. You're right. The air fryer should be hot. And it is.
      Can you believe roses in December? All of my bushes are blooming and they smell so good.

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  2. Interesting about the air fryer, and I would like to know how the chicken goes. Wondering if it cooks faster or something. I haven't grasped the advantage of it yet.

    I love the little sweater!! It needs a glass cover thing to protect it from various chewing things, maybe.

    The rose probably has two species grafted on one trunk. Either that or the hybrid graft place was planted deep and triggered growth from the parent stem as well as from the grafted scion. Anyway that's my theory.

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    1. I'm doing a tiny review of the air fryer in tonight's post. I'm still a little clueless but not as clueless as before.
      Isn't the sweater adorable?
      I think you're right about the rose. There must have been a graft. Although, some of the white blossoms show the tiniest little traces of pink in the middle so...who knows?

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  3. Those pink perfections are so beautifully delicate in color!
    Looking forward to hearing about that chicken! I find the thighs are tastier then the breast white meat!

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    1. I, too, love the colors of the camellias. There are so many shades of them. The pinks are just baby-sweet though.
      I agree with you on the thighs but I thought I'd start out easy.

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  4. A reasonable rose explanation:
    Most likely the rose bush is grafted, and the roots to which the bush is grafted have sent up branches, which flower in whatever color the roots' DNA tells it to.
    I have what was once a lovely low-growing white-flowering rose bush, and after a few years it sent up long arching canes with deep red flowers, towering gracefully over the grafted bush. At this point the red-blooming canes outnumber the bushy white-blooming ones-- and of course are from sturdier stock, which is why they're used as grafting roots.
    Looking carefully, I can discern subtle differences between the stems and leaves of the grafted part and the original root-stock part.
    It wasn't intended to grow that way by whoever did the grafting, but it puts on quite a spectacular show.

    Or maybe your rose bush is a freak of nature.

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    1. I will definitely check to see if there are subtle differences in the pink rose branches. Boud suggested something very similar. Thank you!

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  5. Have you ever seen the skit on SNL with Cecily Strong talking about the air fryer? LOL! Hilarious! I'm curious as to what you will think. I am so *anti* appliance/gadget....having grown up with a european mother who taught me to do everything by hand (primarily baking) , and preparations of roasting or steaming to death of all other food items. It took me a long time to overcome her steaming.....LOL. but the handmade pastry and cakes.....I still do to this day. That tiny jacket May created is a thing of beauty. She has obviously inherited your deft hand (yes- you do have a deft hand)
    Susan M

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    1. I have not seen that. I should look it up. Probably on Youtube.
      I definitely believe in the slower methods of cooking for most things but I doubt I'd enjoy my life quite as much without my food processor, which I use frequently, or my KitchenAid mixer with the dough hook. I absolutely USE those.
      I'm glad you like May's tiny sweater. Isn't it so, so sweet?

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  6. Fish fillets turn out really well in the air fryer. seven minutes one side, then 5 min the other on 400F up near the element at the top. And English muffin come out so toasty and crunchy without being hard. JalapeƱo poppers, spritzed liberally with oil, are good too. Like you say, the biggest drawback is the capacity. The biggest advantage to me is that it doesn't heat up the kitchen as much. Good luck.

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    1. Yes. I would love to try cooking fish in the air fryer. I think that would be a very good thing to cook in it. And those jalapeno poppers sound amazing. I, too, like the fact that it doesn't heat up the kitchen as much. It seems like it's possibly more efficient? I don't know.

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  7. I have an air fryer. It’s about five years old. I made homemade chicken tenders and had to ‘fry’ three batches. Big mess, not impressed. Let me know how yours turns out, and maybe I’ll try again.

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    1. Well, I just cut my boneless, skinless breasts in half so that was just four pieces. I was really pleased with how they turned out.

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  8. See, the fact that you made a resolution to say cocksucker more is why I like reading your writing:)

    The air fryer makes very good french fries which we eat a lot of lately with a two year old in the house. It also reheats KFC popcorn chicken very nicely. I made sesame chicken in it tonight, just the chicken part, the sauce I made separately. It was good. It's just a small convection oven that heats up much faster than my oven and cooks things faster. I like it so far, except how much room it takes up. When I'm done with it I put it away on the basement stairs, at least it's out of sight there.

    I'm not a fan of appliances and I could live without it but right now it will come in handy with the little guy. My husband also bought me a led light for my macro lens which I'm pretty sure I will never use. I don't know how to break it to him. I don't like gadgets, he does.

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    1. I think we were watching "Deadwood" when I made that resolution. The word "cocksucker" is used with frequency and great vigor on it which I admired.
      I can imagine you DO eat a lot of french fries as they definitely are a two-year old's favorite food. At least the ones I've known. I bet your sesame chicken was good.
      We've put our new air fryer where the old toaster oven was so that means it's not taking up any more room than was being taken up before. So far I like it.
      My husband bought me scratch-off tickets for Lotto. He got himself one too. I kept saying, "Honey, this is what you love, not me." I think sometimes we have to tell them although I'm not sure they listen when we do.

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  9. I hope it works out. Happy New Year.

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  10. Ok. I am dying over the miniature jacket. Obsessed.

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    1. Isn't it the most darling thing? Why are miniatures so adorable?

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  11. Beauty on the top and bottom of your post--the lovely miniature sweater and the roses.

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  12. Gosh, those flowers are so pretty! You certainly have a knack for growing things! Good luck with the air fryer, Ms. Moon!

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    1. Well, some things seem to just grow no matter what I do. I tend to concentrate on those!

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  13. This will be the first time Virgil's family has come for a visit? And yes, frame the little sweater. Human bodies change as we age, that's just a fact of life. Best to just accept that which we can't or won't change and get on with being happy. My own little exercise routine which I try (more or less) to do every day is becoming more hit or miss. I figure if I get half the days of the week I'm doing good.

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    1. No. Vergil's family has visited before.
      I will frame the sweater.
      My body has always wanted to be, uh, round and I've spent most of my life trying to fight it and feeling guilty and ugly when I haven't succeeded which is ridiculous. It's one thing I'd love to change about myself. I don't know why I cannot accept myself as I am.

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  14. air fryer? dang , what is the point, that is like air popped pop corn which is like kapok. No, must have oil and fat- good for the brain!By the way, I just consumed an entire jar of pepper jelly all by myself. The most delicious treat of the season! Xxxx! Heaven!

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    1. I'm with you on the popcorn. However, I will say that the chicken I made last night was pretty delightful.
      I'm SO glad you enjoyed your pepper jelly. Shall I send more?

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    2. Though it was the best thing ever, I do not want you to send more. I love it too much but my arthritic joints do not. Eff them, I say...

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  15. I think a frame for the tiny sweater is a great idea. As you said, it will keep it safe and still allow you to display and enjoy it. Have fun with Vergil's family!

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    1. I think you're right about the frame.
      And I think I'll have fun with the family. I love those mountain cousins. They're so much like August.

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  16. That is the sweetest little sweater! Those camellias are perfection, lovely.
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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  17. I miss the camellias terribly when they aren't blooming. But I will have the tiny sweater all year 'round.

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  18. I'm glad the tiny, perfect little sweater will be framed.

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  19. That'll be a whole houseful of people when the "mountain people" arrive won't it - how lovely!

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.