Month: January 2010

Parsnips

Back in the fall, we got parsnips in our last CSA bag. I’d never had them and didn’t entirely know what to do with them, so they just sat. When we got back from Christmas, I finally decided to do something with them (the wrong thing, it turned out – I pureed them with milk and cinnamon, don’t know why, and they tasted like wallpaper paste. Next time, use a real recipe.) The tops had tiny little new green sprouts, so I cut them off and put them in water. Now they look like this:

Such cheerful growing green things to have on the counter in January. They’re growing tiny roots – I wonder if ultimately they’ll be replantable? I suspect I’ll lose interest or forget to water them before then. But for the moment, such a fun thing to see each time I enter the kitchen!

Pants! (Almost)

I stopped by the craft store today to buy ribbon, and noticed a display of dishtowels. For some reason (and despite needing another project like I need a hole in the head), they looked like the perfect material for baby pants, so I chose a bunch and brought them home. H got a few new pairs of 6-12 mos or 9 mos pants for Christmas, but all of his 6 month ones have suddenly turned into capris, so it’s a timely project. I decided to make lined pants with an elastic waist. I used one of the pairs that currently fits to cut the pieces.

I love the linings (from my stash, no less) and I think I did a really nice job sewing them in. The sewing was easy but I didn’t pay good attention on the first pair and had to rip out 6 of the eleven seams. Dumb mistakes. The second pair flew, but the machine woke up H (oops). I got him settled back on the couch and then gave up for the night with only one pair done.

The only sad part is that they of course don’t fit – too narrow at the top. I’m mulling possible fixes – a panel down each of the sides of the legs would do it. The only question is whether to go buy more dishcloths, or to substitute something (fabric? ribbon?).