Your neighbour! Just a smol forest sprite hidden in the lilacs in Babcock's Grove
Be the strange you wish to see in the world
Profile Pix: Totorose has combed her long brown hair over her face. In the header is a path of trees leading to where Totorose may be hiding
#Chicago #LRRR202x #TeamOrca #Bear #TwigWitch #HeatPump #MulberryTree #IllinoisPrairiePath #IIT #Biology #ComputerScience #Science #Technology #ThriftStore #Thrifting #KPOP #BTS #SuperJunior #Shinee
I was antique hunting in Crystal Lake and scored 2 more pieces of darkroom glass for my collection.
Both were mislabeled as kitchenware even though the 8 oz was clearly marked on the bottom with the words "For Photographic Use Only."
I only made 1 lamb cake this year. I used a recipe for Lady Baltimore cake. It made exactly the amount of batter to fill the lamb cake mold.
I pressed edible confetti on the cake to cover it with polka dots.
Next year I may attempt a zebra (chocolate/vanilla) striped cake or a rainbow unicorn lamb.
Matzo balls...
I did not use baking powder this year and simmered the matzo balls in a hotpot on my electric stovetop.
It's interesting (to me) that one year ago I had a gas stovetop!
I used whole wheat matzo again. Added salt, pepper, garlic, onion, parsley and MSG, simmered in chicken broth.
This year's festive meal was hot pot, with chicken and beef stock, matzo balls, carrots, rice cakes, parsley, sliced brisket, egg, onions and shitake and enoki mushrooms. 😋
I went through the Starved Rock Lock this past weekend.
The weather was gorgeous, the Illinois River was calm and I did not get seasick.
The trees haven't gotten their cue so the leaves are still green in the canopy.
I didn't see any of the invasive carp that star in those viral videos of people getting hit by fish leaping out of the water.
Going through the lock was pretty cool, ngl. 😺
The round challah for this year was made by shaping the dough as if it were a cinnamon roll. I spread a mix of chopped raisins, brown sugar, cinnamon and rolled it up then shaped it into a circle.
I had to cover it with foil after 10 minutes of baking as it was browning too quickly. I also sprayed water onto the oven floor to create steam.
Looking forward to a slice of this bread tonight with butter and a honey drizzle.
The #Kentucky #StateFair tradition is a pineapple whip (aka #DoleWhip) a nondairy treat served in a cup or cone like soft serve ice-cream. It's delish!
But... I went to the #Wisconsin StateFair and had the traditional #CreamPuff in the cream puff pavilion.
The existence of a cream puff pavilion is a mind boggling delight!
I also enjoyed the apple pie fries and the apple cider slushie was bomb.
I missed the pickle corn dog somehow so I hope it's there next year.
Last year I planted a #CarolinaReaper (1,641,183 SHU) a #TrinidadScorpion (1,463,700 SHU) and a #GhostPepper (1,001,304 SHU.)
Not one grew. But they lived through the winter and all are thriving, small plants, no blossoms, no fruit.
I bought another Carolina Reaper seedling to try again and hit the jackpot. It's huge, covered in blossoms and green peppers.
When the first one turns red, I plan to cut it in half and taste it.
Just for fun.
I do not fear the #reaper
The storm on the evening of July 15 was bad. Lots of tree damage, twisted and torn, uprooted trees, electrical lines on the ground but thankfully little damage to homes and no one was injured.
I suspected it wasn't a microburst after clearing the damage the day after but confirmation finally came from the NWS.
Amazingly, the little #sage that is protected by plastic forks is ... alive!
I did not expect the forks to work!
Here's a picture of the same sage plant 1 month later. It's grown a little but it's not nibbled.
I guess I do have more #forks to give! 😺
Hmm... banana laver...
Korea? Why?
I like laver snacks and I also like banana snacks so I had to try the banana flavored laver snack from Korea.
It is very strange. It tastes like laver, it crunches like laver but it also tastes of banana! I am so confused!