Snippetage

[magid]

Friday afternoon I was rushed for time, so I pureed the filling for pie, rather than take the time to slice and dice. The taste and texture of the geinger-pear-walnut filling got me thinking about charoset (apples, walnuts, cinnamon, and sweet red wine, for most Ashkenazis), and how a touch of pear or ginger would be interesting. Oh, and ginger definitely blooms over time; I had the last of the pie yesterday, and it was much spicier than on Shabbat.

Pesach is not two weeks away. I haven't started stressing about it yet, so it can't be that close. Right?

Yesterday I was walking through the Yard as a man came by riding a little golf-cart-sized vehicle that was spraying white pellets all around, especially on the sidewalks. I was confused as to why they'd be spreading ice melt when the weather had already turned, and the woman nearby had the same thought. Then she got it, "Lime, for the grass." "That must be it." "Why the sidewalks have acid stomachs is another question."

Signs of spring

• flower brigade arriving: not only snowdrops and crocuses, but daffodils, mini-daffodils, mini-irises, and an advance scout from the tulip army (no green grass yet)
  
• birds singing, all kinds of birds, all kinds of songs
  
• sleeping with the window open
  
• more than one day in a row with a non-winter coat
  
• wearing flip-flops Monday night

M&Ms for Easter: not only pastel, but with little ducks or rabbit ears drawn around the m's.

I've been productive since leaving work yesterday: I did three loads of laundry (all the way through folded and put away), washed dishes, watered plants, changed a lightbulb, confirmed seder plans, arranged for the sale of my chametz, paid bills (including the overdue AAA renewal (oops)), taken out the trash and paper recycling. I've excavated down to the floor, gotten things neatened. And so far, no key. It's not in any pockets, hasn't fallen out on the floor, isn't under the car, wasn't found at Harvest. Nor has the duplicate shown up. Next: get the VIN and get a dealer to make me a new one. It looks like the closest one is Herb Chambers (32 Brighton Ave, Allston, 617 787 1700).

Organic isn't just for food: there are now organic flowers available online (Use this link for 10% of an order to be donated to Heifer International.).

Comments

[fairdice.livejournal.com]

Organic isn't just for food: there are now organic flowers available...

Their list of certifications (http://www.organicbouquet.com/Product/Certification.aspx) goes beyond pedestrian notions like organic and fair trade and reaches Biodynamic. Pardon the extended quote, but I can't resist:

Biodynamics views the farm as a self-sustaining organism within the surrounding ecosystem. It emphasizes animals as being part of the farm ecosystem, and it takes into account the soil, earth, atmosphere, and cosmos. Biodynamics does not employ pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers. Instead, it relies on manure, crop rotations, biological pest control, and cosmic forces to put life back into soils and into the ecology of the farm. Biodynamic farming supplements organic methods with astronomy, and with homeopathic-like preparations and sprays produced on the farm to enhance and regulate plant growth, compost production, and soil fertility. Utilizing the Stella Natura Biodynamic agricultural calendar, Biodynamic farmers consider the positioning of the sun and the moon, and other "cosmic rhythms," as guides for when to prune, plant, or dig.

I was doing okay until the cosmic forces put in an appearance...

[magid.livejournal.com]

I obviously didn't read nearly enough on their site. "Cosmic forces" is pretty bad, and "cosmic rhythms" is horrible.

Still, I'm glad there are flowers available that don't poison the workers (I've read some scary stories about young adults with awful medical problems because of the stuff they spray on the flowers to keep them fresh).

[cellio]

I was at a seder once where someone brought a Sephardi charoset, definitely flavored with ginger. Yummy! (Instead of apples, it had dates, figs, some citrus, and I'm not sure what else.)

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

My crocus and mini-iris assemblages are really stunning this year. I also planted some bulbs I got at a wedding and I hope they come up pretty, but something is coming up :)

[magid.livejournal.com]

I've had Sephardi charoset (one year a cousin made a bunch of kinds, a charoset taste-off), and while it was good, it didn't say "charoset" in the right way for me. Which is to say, good, but without enough similarity to trigger memories of charoset (and seders) past.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Photos once the mystery bulbs flower?