It’s been a busy few weeks, but at least I have a whole bunch of homemade things to show for it.
First of all, I’ve started a bottle of vanilla extract going. I would have loved to make it with vanilla beans from some far-off tropical country, purchased from a roadside vendor with a life story to tell – but I had to settle for vanilla bean pods from Bulk Barn. But if you’re going to a far-off tropical country, you know what I’d like you to bring back for me. 
This little glass bottle of Absolut seemed perfect for this project when I saw it at the store. The quality of the alcohol is not important, just the fact that it’s alcohol (thus the use of Absolut). According to the different sources, I’m supposed to let it sit anywhere from 2 to 6 months. Now, just over 2 weeks later, the extract has developed a light brown colour – similar to medium-strength tea. I’m pretty excited for the 2-month mark!
Continuing with the homemade things, I also… decanted my orange cleaner solution. Vinegar is an environmentally friendly cleaner, but let’s face it – it doesn’t smell very appealing. The idea behind this cleaner is that you soak orange peel in vinegar, thus giving the vinegar an orange-y smell. You add a few more basic ingredients – and voila.
What are my impressions 2 weeks later? It’s pretty good. I’m still at the point where I wouldn’t use it on more sensitive surfaces, for fear of damaging them, but I use it on glass/counters a lot. It seems to be a bit more watery than commercial cleaners, leaving a bit of a spotty film when you try to wipe it off, but seems to dry well. I think next time I would also use more oranges, because while the vinegar smell is certain subdued, it’s still a bit too strong for my taste. Overall – it’s definitely staying in my cleaning arsenal, but I’m not rushing out to throw out all of my existing cleaning supplies, either.
Finally – the planting season is upon us!
With the new greenhouse, my setup is a bit more sophisticated this year. I couldn’t find a properly sized light, so am unfortunately stuck with a light twice the size of the one I need. Hopefully, this I”m growing more seedlings this year than I’m used to, the shop light will ensure they will all get the proper amount of light.
Do you see your seedling in there? Thanks again to all those who supported my fundraising efforts – you guys are amazing!
And the much spoken-of cardigan/sweater I was knitting? I got to the point where all the pieces were done except for the collar, and had even sewn it together. Except that when I tried it, I hated the way it looked. So, back to the yarn room with that yarn. Until I find another pattern I like, I’m moving on to another project. Sorry, awesome yarn (as Dan would say) – I guess you were just too awesome for that project.
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