OctoPhoMo 1 thru 5 in Those Public Entries

A little late to the party, but, why not?

1. Purple OR Orange

My orange boi, Smudge. Modeling my first, then-in-progress, needle-knitted scarf.

2. Toys OR Teddy Bear

I currently have five, five-week-old kittens in the house. Everything is a toy to them. They use the pet steps to play King of the Mountain.

3. Book OR Frame

Books I found while thrifting.

4. Pickles OR Onions

Homemade pickles! On top: Vermont maple cucumber pickles (they’ll be ready to taste on October 23rd). In the middle: Four jars of pomegranate pickled cauliflower, and two each of basil beans and Italian-style beans (basil, marjoram, and garlic). I’ve also made caraway beets, but I don’t have pictures yet. Those were processed in a boiling water bath, and need six weeks for the flavors to mature. And on the bottom, half-sour kosher dills, fermented.

I might make spiced carrot sticks next; I just need to decide if I’m fermenting or canning them. Pickling has been a hobby of mine lately; I also just finished making a new batch of kimchi, and once I get another head of cabbage, I’m going to start some sauerkraut.

5. Wood OR Brick

My new kitchen table. That top is real wood, not particle board.