Hebridean Renovation

A glimmer this week, and not a filter in sight

Cold and a dusting but beautiful bright blue skies today :)

To be fair our male collie is a bit like that too, (I have never knows such a sook of a dog in my life- he lives to please and cuddle ) our bitch is just desperate to work

Sounds heavenly! :)

Always the collie

*they are too damned smart*

I'll try and remember to tag you if I see it again :)

😆 fair, but thought you may appreciate an update none the less 😆

I'm afraid I don't have a link to hand, but I've seen people talking about an app to import all your historic Twitter posts

The lucky author holds a single, roasted cacao bean with 1/2 the shell removed so we can see the pure chocolate inside. Behind his hand is a roasting tray filled with beans. The smell. THE SMELL.

This photo shows an aluminum roasting tray filled with a layer of cacao beans. When roasting, the aroma of the fermentation suddenly gives way to the overwhelming joy of fresh brownies. Yes, there is a spirit watching over us all.

Reader, I do not know the demons that haunt your dreams, the frustrations and insults of life that have brought you to your knees, the sadness you battle in your heart.

But know this: there is pure goodness in this world. It exists. Sometime we see a glimpse of it.

Today, I got such a peek.

No snow but had some ferocious hail earlier

Cool water, fabric conditioner and a LOT of stretching?

I'm not sure how much success you'll have with reverse felting though ☹️

Oh actually, it's worked! Pin a red pin to your top bar then posts you put a 📌 will appear there!

Am told the red pin is involved and it makes some kind of thread- but I don't know how to do it yet

Don't get me wrong - I really miss my ambles around Falkirk Market on a Sunday morning, it's not about a "conviction" -but I am really sorry Tesco has taken this move

The back of the shed sometimes offers nice views of the #northernlights #aurora

Pics of the shed will follow eventually.

#isleoflewis #Hebrides #Callanish #astrophotography

Word of the Day is a true favourite, as some of you will know.

Apricity (17th century) is the warmth of the sun on a winter’s day.

Uig?

( apologies I'm trying to bookmark you and I haven't quite figured out how this place works for that yet 😅)

📌

Warden or Quince pie, anyone? This C17th #recipe sounds like a rather delicious way to make good use of your winter #pears and #quinces:

orchardnotes.com/2024/11/16/g...

Recent research shows that an ordinary cup of tea is effective at alleviating anxiety & lifting mood.

The antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) along with the amino acid L-theanine & caffeine acting together actually improve mental health & memory.

It's not just an old wive's tale, it works.

There is much swapping and many tactics in play to drag each other away and then secure top spot for cuddles - they are inseparable but both quite jealous when it comes to cuddles

Cheers cove, much obliged :)

You can tag me in please :)

This photo shows your author holding a measuring cup of dried, fermented brown cacao beans next to the moisture measuring machine he will use to determine if they’re dry enough yet. The machine looks like a cylinder sticking up from a metal plate with a computer display on it. The cacao is poured into the cylinder, and it can measure the moisture content. The author’s kitchen is filled with this arcane shit.

This photo shows the moisture measuring device delivering the verdict: a perfect 6.6%. This means the beans are 93.7% chocolate and only 6.6% water. When we roast most of the water will evaporate out. It’s weird to think that this water came from the water we put on the soil in the planters the cacao trees grow in. Cool weird.

This photo shows the fermented, dried cacao beans in a bag. They are lovely, brown, and ready to roast. I was going to make a joke, but this is too cool.

We have survived the weird smell of chocolate vinegar for 18.5 hours of forced air drying at 88F. A lot of interesting chemistry has happened in fermentation, has continued through drying, and will blossom into glorious flavor when we roast.

For now though, victory at 6.6% moisture. Ready to roast.

The pups....

Just because

Lovely to see you lady :)

Snail shell covered in green chewed-up leaves - looks like pesto.

Three species of solitary mason bee in Britain and Ireland make their nests in abandoned snail shells. After laying her eggs inside her chosen shells, female Red-tailed Masons cover them with chewed-up leaves... so they look like they've been covered in pesto!

#bees #insects #invertebrates #nature

Dangerous Coats

Someone clever once said
Women were not allowed pockets
In case they carried leaflets
To spread sedition
Which means unrest
To you & me
A grandiose word
For commonsense
Fairness
Kindness
Equality
So ladies, start sewing
Dangerous coats
Made of pockets & sedition

Sharon Owens