November 25, 2009
Why I Don't Cook
In life, I have a bad habit of starting Step A, completing all of it except, for some unfathomable reason, the last little bit and moving prematurely on to Step B. Fortunately, I’m aware of this, so I keep a wary eye out for signs of this self-defeating behavior. Sometimes, however, even that is not enough. Case in point:
Last night I made rice for the week. I got out the bag of rice, poured a hefty amount into my rice-cooker insert and started to take the insert to the sink to add water. Being aware of The Bad Habit, however, I cast about and noticed that I had left the largely full bag of rice open and teetering on the counter—a bad, certainly slapstick, accident waiting to happen. So I put the insert down and closed the bag, feeling all self-disciplined and in control of my universe.
Turned around. Hit the insert with my elbow and knocked it onto the floor. Rice everywhere.
Damn.
For those of you who may be interested in a further horticultural lesson, Dahlia Dig-Up Day is quickly followed by Dahlia Dismemberment Day. Below, a picture of the behemoth I pictured here, divided into 11 pieces.
The pieces will be stored in vermiculite in a porous plastic bag for the winter. In the spring, I will, with fingers crossed, check them for eyes. 11 eyes means I could potentially have 11 of these beauts:
Do I need 11 of them? No sirree. As a matter of fact, I only want one. But there's still something satisfying about getting something, or 11 somethings, for nothing. Besides, it's a stash thing; you knitters understand.
Speaking of knitting, below, the body of the Recession Sweater, finished, knit with a v-neck in order to add a shawl collar, slightly blocked, all ends woven in, waiting for sleeves. The only setback I see so far is the armholes are a whoppin' 12" deep. You could drive a truck through them. That, and the whole thing looks like a slightly psychedelic jail jumpsuit. Argh.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
It doesn't look very psychedelic, but yes, horizontal stripes do have an institutional look...
Posted by: Swapna on November 26, 2009 01:52 AMoh the rice thing soooo something I would do - in fact probably have done - but don't you just love your rice cooker - I have a Zo - and I found the best recipe for Mac and cheese in it too....
envious of the Dahlia's
Posted by: rho on November 26, 2009 04:36 AMVery sad about the rice. At least it wasn't milk!
Those armholes need to fit over a shirt and not be uncomfortable. And you will (I'm guessing) add a bit of ribbing, which will pull them in. Don't worry, be happy...
Posted by: Mary de B on November 26, 2009 04:36 AMHappy Thanksgiving, sweetie!
Don't cry over spilt rice :)
Posted by: Robbyn on November 26, 2009 06:49 AMIf I were a drag queen, I might consider the stage name, "Dahlia Dig-up Day." Which is probably one reason why I'm not a drag queen.
Posted by: Cuzzin Tom on November 26, 2009 06:58 AMSo if I put 11 skeins of yarn in a porous plastic bag with some vermiculite and hide it until spring, I'll get 11 dahlia-gorgeous sweaters out of it? This could be the start of something magical. Or messy.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Tee on November 26, 2009 07:42 AMI once dropped a glass dish I was removing from the microwave after melting 4 sticks of butter. The floor was still greasy and icky even after I wiped it all up. Imagine my delight when the dog decided to wash the floor for me with her big tongue. Not that that helps you clean up the rice...
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Posted by: kmkat on November 26, 2009 08:24 AMKmkat - that's know as the "prewash" function on the dog-o-meter. Works ever so good. For solid matter twist doggie dial to "hoover." Happy T-day to you Dearest Ryan. Let's Sunday-it s'more, eh? I think you'll find the big armholes are not so big - since your shoulders and armscye look well-proportioned, it will just be very comfortable - not to mention being a helpful ease area for a the slight bit of excess frontage.....KWIM?
Posted by: Linda "K" on November 26, 2009 09:44 AMHa ha "recession sweater"! I'm going to have to start using that term. I don't think I've done anything BUT recession knitting for the last 3 months!
Posted by: Erika on November 26, 2009 10:13 AMAnd a happy thanksgiving to you, too! How could thanksgiving be anything BUT happy?
Posted by: Janine on November 26, 2009 10:38 AMHappy Day to you as well!
Your rice escapade sounds about as much fun as the time I couldn't get the darned 1 lb bag of M&Ms open to make cookies. That is, until it suddenly popped open and there was a spray of M&Ms around my kitchen.
Posted by: Kristen on November 26, 2009 11:27 AMThe universe isn't laughing AT us; it's laughing WITH us, right? You have such a way with words: I definitely "heart" you!
Posted by: nutmeg33 on November 27, 2009 12:36 AMNext spring you could have a contest and as prizes, give away the extra dahlia bulbs. My dog was named Dahlia by the people at Animal Control, but when I adopted her, I changed it to Betsy because DAHlia is too difficult for me to pronounce.
Posted by: Abby on November 27, 2009 04:49 AMHappy (late) Thanksgiving!
Last year, I did to pine nuts what you did with rice: knocked it over, and... everywhere. You're not the only klutz in the kitchen.
Posted by: Batty on November 28, 2009 08:34 AMThe dahlia's are gorgeous!
I haven't done the rice thing recently, but I'm still always spilling things in the kitchen. Normally flour because I bake like nobody's business.
Posted by: Seanna Lea on November 30, 2009 10:58 AMOoh. Oooh. Yes. A contest where we can win some dahlias! Want any that are a beautiful deep red? I did dahlia dig up day, too. On a totally off-topic note: I just started Dublin Bay socks last night. Lurve the pattern! It's happy knitting.
Posted by: LauraSue on November 30, 2009 01:51 PM