Stasia's Place Of Grace

     

Friday, March 11, 2005

 

The Cheese Stands Alone

I made a cheese! It is supposed to be a cheddar. Let's hope it fares better than my disintegrating mozzarella and feta of recent weeks (they did not do well in brine solutions! But they tasted really good when I initially finished them.)

The cheddar has to air dry for a few days now, so it is in the only temperature- and humidity-controlled environment I could find - the music room. Here he is with a sensor from our weather station monitoring his condition:

A couple more days and I'll coat him with cheery red wax.

Cheesemaking is not a simple hobby. We don't have a cheese press, so we had to rely on a pottery wine cooler stuffed with lead shot in order to press the cheese in its mold and extract the whey. We're trying not to buy additional equipment - what good is it to make your own cheese if you're going to spend more on equipment than you ever would on cheese for the next ten years? But I think this is one activity where you can't really scrimp on the accoutrements... or the ingredients, so I'm seeking out local raw (unpasteurized) milk sources and using organic milk and cream in the meantime.

    Who was it who said, "Beware of all ventures requiring new clothes"? Twain, Emerson? They were probably speaking about new hobbies requiring new equipment as well. My library of quilt books, stash of sewing fabrics, and assemblage of unusual accessories has expanded of late, necessitating additional Rubbermaid "wool" tubs and a new, handmade wrist pincushion in the Cathedral Windows pattern...

    ...and now I find (imagine) I require a little, organizational "stitching envelope", sewn and embroidered on wool-felt, designed by Crabapple Hill. (Be sure to read her Artist's Statement on her home page for inspiration!)

    After looking all over the Internet for the required fabric, wouldn't you know, they had it at my local Joann's?

I had to buy a silicone pastry brush for my cheese wax, and a stainless steel hand colander... but I am desperately trying not to succumb to presses, followers, weights, forms, and other cheesy things as I have no room in my kitchen.

If you're interested in learning to make cheese, you can get kits from Lehman's (I just got some maple sugar tree-tappin' spigots from them!) or try here.

Why am I making cheese? I can no longer do hippotherapy because my body can't handle it any longer. :-( A recent, scary trip to the doctor involving x-rays and orders for a CT scan made me realize that I had better just be grateful for having the chance to ride again, and give up while I was ahead (and before I ended up in traction). Now I understand how old people who have to give up their drivers' licenses feel! (I haven't been updating my Blog or participating in discussion groups because I haven't been able to sit very much. No, I did not injure my butt on the horse - it is my old back injury kicking up again.) ;-)

After a few really depressing weeks during which I carefully saddle-soaped my beloved, recently-acquired equipment and put it all away for storage, put all my books and silly plastic model horses out of view, and removed all horse-related books from my Amazon wishlist, I realized I needed something to get me out of the doldrums.

So I decided to focus on things I could do now without getting hurt.

About the same time, I happened upon some books on Tasha Tudor, and was inspired to make cheese, yogurt, and butter, learn to make baskets, learn to quilt (well, that was mostly thanks to Pamela's Omiyage influence!), and attempt various other activities of self-sufficiency. I resubscribed to a local organic farm delivery, bought a canner contraption, have read some Amish cookbooks, and am determined to learn to preserve foods this year.

I'll tell you this - I don't know how Tasha Tudor does it. Going over jumps on horses seems infinitely easier than making one's own clothes and food every single day!

Still, I am finding much more meaning in these activities - there is nothing like the taste of homemade butter on home baked bread. The effort of churning and kneading gives you a good appetite (so sue me if I use my KitchenAid, it is still a lot of work!), and somehow, you appreciate the eating more (and cherish the food and therefore eat less - not a bad thing, now that I'm no longer getting exercise by riding, not to mention cheating with kitchen appliances!)

I did replace all those horsey wishlist books with cheesemaking and cow rearing and raw milk information books, and things are looking up. :-)

I even knit two rounds on my pink Cashmerino Aran top-down raglan t-neck last night - after not touching my knitting in weeks (I told you I was depressed!)

And hopefully I will have a nice picture of a little, practice quilt made of flannel (for Fiona, at Jeff's request) to show you soon!


Speaking of Fiona, she had surgery this week - am I ever not taking someone to the vet for an operation? Three dogs in as many months - lets hope Chester doesn't need anything done in April! Luckily, the moles Fi had removed were benign and the incisions are causing her no trouble at all - something for which we are extremely grateful.

Fi was quite angry, though, that there was no room for her to sunbathe - just look at her expression!

Like all of us, she is anxious for the snow to melt and for the warmth of spring to arrive.


Shoppie Sites Of The Day

I just found out Kundert Spindles has a new website, and did you know that Kary has a CafePress store featuring Klaudette, The Knotty Sheep?

Get ready for spring insects now, while you can - my sister gave me one of these for Christmas, and I have to tell you, this thing is the best! It is humane and it works!


Here At Meadowview...

There was a northern harrier hawk visiting today, perched for some time on the park bench outside my window, during an afternoon snowstorm. After some time, he hopped to the ground and looked carefully behind each of three small evergreen bushes in our landscaping, as if he'd lost something. So strange to see a bird like that jogging around on land like a chicken! This was in an area where I feed the songbirds, so no doubt he must check in here daily for "easy pickin's". My presence didn't faze him one bit - he was on the prowl and wasn't giving up. Lucky for me, as I was entranced at seeing him!

I watched him hunt about for ten minutes or so, until he flew away, low and silent and smooth through the bare-branched orchard, scattering frantic mourning doves from our woods as he passed. The thick snowflakes continued to fall as he flew north.

There is a bit of winter yet here in Wisconsin... and I am trying to soak in the last of its beauty.

Snowdrops are up in the yard. Roses seem to all have been eaten, but hopefully they'll come back. Glad the bunnies had something to munch while it was so cold.

Tomorrow we go to Lael's to pick up Sparx's 2005 fleece. Guess I'd better get another Rubbermaid tub...


Animal Breed Zip Code

Welcome To Stasia's Blog

Stasia is a knitter, spinner, weaver, writer, reader, and musician from Wisconsin, USA.

Join her here as she journals about beauty in nature, the joys of fibery pursuits, special people and pets, and great places to shop. It's her hope you'll leave spiritually inspired and creatively motivated. Thanks for visiting!

Mini Me

Recent Comments

Fab Fiberarts Rings

Knitting Bloggers
Previous | Next


List | Previous | Next


Previous | Next


Previous | Next


Previous | Next


Previous | Next

Buds' Blogs

Need To Mellow Out?


Daily Zen


Light A Candle

Need An Excuse?

My Fiber Pusher

The Knotty Sheep

Download Me

Subscribe To This Blog

Subscribe with Bloglines

Subscribe to Stasia's feed

Hear Me

Stasia's Place Podcast

Past Entries

Omigod - Omiyage! I'm in love with omiyage! (Pamel...
The Middle Of Winter As you may have heard, we ha...
A Valentine's Day Knitting Pattern For You Click o...
Quickest Blog Update Ever First, a note to yarn m...
'Piphany Present! Oh look, oh look! I got an Epip...
Mission Impossible? I cannot find, anywhere, a ...
How You Can Help From Needlework Unlimited yarn s...
Papa Bear's Cold Care "Hack-hack-hack. Cough. Gro...
UPDATED - IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL REQUEST I just rece...
Holiday Surprise We went out for some last-minute...

July 28, 2002 August 04, 2002 August 11, 2002 August 18, 2002 August 25, 2002 September 01, 2002 September 08, 2002 September 15, 2002 September 22, 2002 September 29, 2002 October 06, 2002 October 13, 2002 October 20, 2002 October 27, 2002 November 03, 2002 November 10, 2002 November 17, 2002 November 24, 2002 December 01, 2002 December 08, 2002 December 22, 2002 December 29, 2002 January 05, 2003 January 12, 2003 January 19, 2003 January 26, 2003 February 16, 2003 February 23, 2003 March 02, 2003 March 09, 2003 March 16, 2003 March 23, 2003 March 30, 2003 April 06, 2003 April 27, 2003 May 04, 2003 May 11, 2003 May 18, 2003 June 01, 2003 June 08, 2003 June 15, 2003 June 22, 2003 June 29, 2003 July 06, 2003 July 13, 2003 July 27, 2003 August 03, 2003 August 10, 2003 August 17, 2003 August 31, 2003 September 14, 2003 September 28, 2003 October 05, 2003 October 12, 2003 October 26, 2003 November 09, 2003 November 16, 2003 November 23, 2003 November 30, 2003 December 07, 2003 December 14, 2003 December 21, 2003 December 28, 2003 January 11, 2004 January 18, 2004 January 25, 2004 February 08, 2004 February 22, 2004 March 07, 2004 March 14, 2004 March 21, 2004 March 28, 2004 April 04, 2004 April 18, 2004 May 09, 2004 May 16, 2004 June 06, 2004 June 13, 2004 June 20, 2004 June 27, 2004 August 01, 2004 August 08, 2004 August 22, 2004 August 29, 2004 September 05, 2004 September 12, 2004 September 19, 2004 November 21, 2004 November 28, 2004 December 05, 2004 December 19, 2004 December 26, 2004 January 02, 2005 January 09, 2005 January 23, 2005 January 30, 2005 March 06, 2005 April 03, 2005 May 08, 2005 May 15, 2005 May 29, 2005 June 05, 2005 June 12, 2005 June 19, 2005 July 03, 2005 July 10, 2005 July 17, 2005 July 31, 2005 August 14, 2005 August 28, 2005 September 04, 2005 September 11, 2005 September 18, 2005 November 06, 2005 November 13, 2005 November 27, 2005 December 04, 2005 December 11, 2005 December 25, 2005 January 01, 2006 January 08, 2006 January 22, 2006 March 26, 2006 April 09, 2006 April 16, 2006 April 23, 2006 April 30, 2006 May 07, 2006 May 14, 2006 June 04, 2006 June 25, 2006 September 03, 2006 November 05, 2006 November 12, 2006 November 19, 2006 November 26, 2006 December 24, 2006 January 07, 2007 January 21, 2007 January 28, 2007 February 11, 2007 February 18, 2007 February 25, 2007 September 30, 2007

About Me

My Home Page - Updating

I Support...

The Tibet Fund
Citizens For A Free Tibet
Monadnock Humane Society
The National Primate Research Exhibition Hall (NPRX)
The Primate Freedom Project

Your Click Helps At...

The Animal Rescue Site

I Believe...

I'm Involved...

I Listen To...

Important Note

We have a new ISP and my web pages are being moved. My old URLs will not work unless you go here and type them in to get an archived copy. As I upload the pages to the new server, the links in my sidebar will become clickable again. Sorry for the inconvenience.

My Patterns

Knit Koigu Kersti Shawl
Gaugeless Toe-Up Socks
Knit Beehive Hat
Knit Fingerless Mitts
Knit PodPocket For iPod Mini

My Websites

Dyeing Experiments and Instructions - Updating
Textile and Fiberarts Pages - Updating
Beekeeping Pages - Updating
Take The Spindle Quiz!

My Amazon Wish List

...Is Here

My Froogle Wish List

...Is Here

My Photos

www.flickr.com
This is a Flickr badge showing public photos from jeffnstasia. Make your own badge here.

Pet Rats Rule!


To The Ratlist
Image By Ophelia

Send Me E-mail

jeffnstasia[AT]yahoo[DOT]com

The Weather In Eau Claire, WI

The WeatherPixie



moon phases
 

Give My Dog A Bone

Adopt Your Own Virtual Pet!

Hosted By Blogger.com

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

Stats By SiteMeter.com