Nancy Reading

My husband helped me on Sunday (the last nice weather for the foreseeable) to fit the ridgepole. Actually he did almost all the work, whilst I passed tools and moved ladders! It wasn't as bad as it could have been, considering the wonkiness of the hoops. We were able to adjust the hoop heights slightly as we went, so as to smooth out the alignment. This time we remembered to fit the extra brackets for the bracebars. Rather than work up a taller ladder we moved the digger backwards and forwards, and Hubby worked off the roof. The clamps are all now tightened, and extra hotspot tape applied. We needed to fit some grub screws where as one or two of the clamps had badly formed threads. The threads are tapped into the clamps and the thickness of the clamps isn't quite enough to get a good thread engagement.
The next step is starting to build up the end frames - more Aluminium beams. I need to double check the lengths and work out the most efficient way of cutting them so as to maximise the use of the lengths. Because we're not fitting the central brace for the middle of the door lintels, the design is slightly different to the one I calculated the lengths from. I think I will have enough - I just have to be careful.
I've started moving the space wood and door and window frames from the original tunnel to the site so that I can have them handy to repair them and for sizing the frame apertures.

Having finished the nappies and extra cloths (and washed them), I did have a go at some wool soaker covers. Not having a baby to practise on, I'm not sure whether the sizing will be close enough. I used Rita's Rump Cover pattern as a starting point and tried to insert ribbing from the cuffs, collar and waistband to act as the elastic for the back and leg holes. I'm not sure whether I got enough stretch in to be reasonably effective. Anyway, they cost nothing, didn't take long to make and used a couple of scrap jumpers I'd been hanging onto for too long....

Nathanael Szobody wrote:you always have the option of throwing in sea salt as well.

Living by the coast I could use sea water as the liquour.....

Sympathy here - I must admit I never do hot composting, although the idea of weed and pathogen free compost is appealing! Let us know how it progresses.
I think tumbler compost processes would probably make turning most easy.

source

I think in most areas they are grown, they are fine harvested in the first year. I do often leave them another year, but my area is a little cool and wet for them to do well.
If you want to increase your stock, replanting the tubers with increased spacing won't do any harm.

Anne Miller wrote:Maybe this is something to consider selling in your shop?

Oh we stock it, but I usually use it by the teaspoon not the cup!

I cook without baking powder and with baking soda instead because baking powders dies before I can use it.

Yes the baking powder mix or self raising flour have a much shorter shelf life than the separate ingredients....I think it's a good idea to add them at the last minute.

Thank you both!

M Ljin - I've not made pretzels either, so either way it is an experiment! I do have a wood fired stove, so have access to known wood ash....

Anne - baking soda appears to be the same as bicarbonate of soda in the UK. I went down a rabbit hole checking; I wonder why it is called bicarbonate of soda, when there is only one carbonate to sodium? ( NaHCO3 )  So that is also an easy thing to try...

I may try the wood ash first as that saves buying large quantities of baking soda, and then nothing much to do with the waste liquid. As I have very acidic soil, I don't think either will do the garden much harm when diluted.

I think this month it would be deer rutting moon. They seem to have started calling early this year.

I've got a recipe to try (pretzels) that has "food grade lye" as an ingredient. This isn't something I've come across. I gather it is Sodium Hydroxide solution, which seems a bit unlikely (as it is also a drain cleaner), but I guess it comes down to concentration and dosage.
Can I make this, or something else that will do the same job? Or will I need to find an online supplier for it?