More Fermented Vegetables

I started three new jars of "sauerkraut" last week. This time I used more than just cabbage and salt. In the jar on the left I included beet, carrot, onion, and apple with the cabbage. The middle jar has eggplant and cabbage, and the jar on the right has brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. Each jar also includes several spices: caraway, juniper, black pepper, red pepper, coriander, or curry. I had a lot of juice left after I ate all of the earlier-made sauerkraut, so I also added that to each of these jars. Other than the salt in that brine, very little extra salt was added (only a few pinches to the eggplant mixture). The tasting has barely begun, but I think I may have been too heavy with the spices. These might have to be condiments rather than side dishes.

January Flowers

I found a tree covered in these flowers in the south park blocks. Very striking and unique flowers (genus Hamamelis -- witchhazel)

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is flowering in the PSU community garden.

This is chickweed (Stellaria media) which seems to do really well in the winter here.

And this is Tobaccus cigarettebuttis, in full bloom.

Book Binding

An image of journals I have made. It takes me half an hour to an hour to put one all together. I use these as agendas, for taking notes, or for general writing. They're really quite simple... all you need is paper, string, and a needle (other things like cardboard, cloth, glue, or tape are optional).