Welcome 2015, from my happiest place on earth

London's Natural History Museum says hi.

copyright National Geographic

I'm sitting in a warm room, with a cat on my lap (and half on one arm), so things are pretty decent so far.  Having only visited one natural history museum as an adult, it's my happiest place on earth.  I should try virtual tours of the Field Museum and Smithsonian.  Then I can have multiple virtual happiest places :)

Earlier I was browsing my bookshelves and realized that it's like having a bookstore in my home.  Curated by me!  I should start looking at more of my art and knitting books, not just them snooze on my shelves.

Happy New Year to everyone, and Stay Sciencey!

Very Short Post

Because if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.  2014 was long, difficult, lonely and painful.  I can't look forward to things being any different in 2015.  There were some bright spots, but not enough to overpower the dark ones.  So much for another year.

Heart, Hands, Hawaii and Holidays

In the biggest news, I went to Maui for a long weekend in early December.  It was beautiful, and I was sad to return home.  This is the only vacation I can remember where I imagined chucking it all and staying there.

 

I was only back for a couple days when I had to get an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) and 48 hour Holter monitor.  The echo was a breeze, the monitoring was miserable.  I'm allergic to the adhesive and electrode gel, so the whole test period was itchy, painful and overall unpleasant.  But at least it's done.  The follow-up showed nothing bad, which is frustrating but better than OMG your heart's going to explode!!!

Fatigue has been kicking my butt up, down and sideways.  My hands and joints have been increasingly painful and fumbly, so I'm getting little knitting done.  I don't know how to think of myself now that I can barely make anything.  Being a Maker was such a big part of my identity.

And lastly, holidays.  I'm mostly alone this year, as friends have moved, moved on, or can't understand or cope with how sick I am.  I may look ok, but I am very ill.  I do have a couple family events, and hopefully I'll be able to attend and enjoy those.  Wishing everyone reading a happy holidays and happy new year.

Perfect Cranberry Sauce-Relish

I invented this recipe last Thanksgiving, when I was unable to decide between the gorgeous ruby color and thickness of cooked cranberry sauce or the crunchy freshness of raw relish.  Here you have the best of both worlds!

Summer's perfect cranberry sauce-relish

1 bag cranberries (12 oz)

Juice of 1 orange, or 3-4 tangerines

Zest of 1/4 orange or 1 tangerine

Sugar or honey to taste (~3/8 cup)

Water

Blitz the cranberries, juice and zest in a food processor until finely chopped.  But not too finely.  Last year I used a Valencia orange, which was delicious, but this year I made do with tangerines I had on hand.  

Put half the cranberry mixture in a small saucepan and add a splash of water and the sweetener of your choice.  Bring to a simmer and cook for approx 10 minutes, stirring often as the pectin works its magic.  Keep adding splashes of water as needed, so the sauce doesn't stick to the pan and burn.  

Remove from heat and stir in the uncooked cranberries.  Taste and add more sweetener or zest as desired.  Remember this is supposed to be a tart dish.

Serve and bask in the adulation of all present.  For you have conquered the ferocious Cran Berry.

Salmonberries in Winter

I finished this sweater in June, at least the knitting of it.  I found buttons for it a couple weeks ago, and here it is!  Just in time for winter :)

This sweater took F O R E V E R to knit, but it's done and full of cozy squishy warm alpaca/wool goodness.  Salmon berries are a delicious local berry, and seemed the perfect descriptor.  The bumpy stitch pattern on the inner sleeves and back is blackberry stitch, so there ya go.

Photo from June