Month: January 2014

On flutes and weaving…

Aynaria 1 Comment

mouse with fluteRecently my free time has been focused on learning more about the Native American flute and loom weaving. Both have captivated me for several years…

Anything that interests me, receives a lot of research. Which, if you think about it, is how it should be since the more information (pros and cons) you have on a topic, you’re more likely to make a better choice.

I will say that internet, has made that aspect so much easier, since much of the information needed is available, I just need to take the time and read the sources.  It’s much easier to search online than physically go to a library; which is something I did often before the internet was so common. And while the internet has opened up a awesome new world for anything that interest me, I still find that I enjoy having a physical book that I can reference when I want to disconnect from technology devices.

This morning, you could find me on Amazon purchasing two books on my newest interests. Of course, I researched them both before making the purchases. Mel Bay Flute Magic: An Introduction to the Native American Flute. I chose next day delivery; so it should arrive tomorrow; the same day as my Native American flute. My second book, The Weaver’s Idea Book: Creative Cloth on a Rigid Heddle Loom is scheduled to arrive this coming Tuesday.

Also, I purchased a 32″ Kromski stand from The Woolery for my 32″ Kromski Rigid Heddle Harp. Based on its awesome customer service, I should be receiving the stand early next week. The thing is, I already have someone making me a custom stand but since I know I won’t be receiving it soon I decided to purchase one now. Because it’s well made, I can easily sell it once it’s no longer needed. My 32″ Kromski Harp easily fits on the table, but many times I’d prefer to weave somewhere else. The stands gives me that opportunity.

I’m really looking forward to receiving the flute tomorrow; weather permitting of course. I’ve already set aside time to devote to getting acquainted with the new instrument.

Pied_Piper

Playing music with others…

I’m looking forward to eventually playing with others. My daughter has already promised she’ll accompany me in duets. She plays the piano. I’m also looking forward to playing with others who play the Native American flute. Because of the internet I’ve been able to connect with other Native American flute players. They’ve been very helpful. Recently, I’ve had an ongoing chat with one (also a newbie) about the flute videos they’ve posted. He even suggested playing on Skype sometime. I look forward to accepting the invitation and playing music with him… on Skype.

Four Seasons – Vivaldi

Aynaria 4 Comments

I love classical music. I started playing the piano at a young age (eight.) The first four years of piano playing, the only music I was allowed to play was classical.

Towards the end of those four years I was happy to play anything but classical and I refused to play or listen to it for about seven years. In my late teens I came back to it again, and we haven’t parted ways. While I love all types of music, I do have a special place in my heart for classical. So I’m not surprised that I want to learn to play a few pieces on my newest instrument the Native American flute; it should arrive this Saturday.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Aynaria Leave a comment

I can listen to this any time of the year; and I do. It’s one of my favorite songs!

It’s also beautifully played by The Piano Guys. They are amazing musicians.

Of course, I’m drooling over some of the beautifully woven period costumes displayed throughout this video. One of my long term goals is to make some period outfits with my 32″ Kromski harp. I’m still learning how to weave so that won’t be happening immediately, but in time… we’ll see what I can create.

The Native American flute that I ordered from High Spirits Flute, should be here this Saturday. I’m really excited about learning another musical instrument.

Sour pork stew

Aynaria 5 Comments

Often, when my mother (who is a nurse) works I’ll prepare food for my father. This past weekend she worked and so I thought it would nice to prepare a few meals for my father.

Initially I was unsure at what I should make? But after turning over, and rejecting various animal product possibilities, my mind drifted to the Boston butt (pork) that I’d purchased about a month before. Initially, I’d purchased it to make sausage, but that never happened and so it made its way to the frozen food animal product section of our deep freezer.

Pork Boston Butt_1

With a few ideas in my head I pulled it out of the freezer, cut up the frozen meat and put it in the pressure cooker garlic with a variety of herbs and spices that  I’d ground in my mortar and pestle.

Freshly pressure cooked garbanzo beans were added to the mix, along with carrots and potatoes. The broccoli was added the last minute of cooking. The six pounds of frozen meat was tender in 1.5 hours! Got to love pressure cookers.The broth was drained and set aside in the refrigerator. Once it was chilled It was much easier to remove the fat since when chilled it turns a creamy white and rises to the top. The broth was then was reserved since I planned on making a stew the next day. All the pork was shredded with a fork, to be used in pulled pork sandwiches and the following day I made the sour pork stew.

Sour pork stew_1

As you can see, there are plenty of vegetables in this stew.

What made my pork stew sour?

The simple addition of freshly squeezed lemon juice and apple cider vinegar gave it just the right amount of sourness without overpowering the dish. The rich creaminess came from adding cream cheese.

Results?

How was it? Well… both my father and daughter scraped every last drop of that stew and came back for more. I guess, I’ll chalk that up to a success.

Leading by example: Showing others how to make healthier meals

While I might not eat animal products, I do think it’s important to show others a healthier approach (if they aren’t eating healthy already) to prepare their meals. That’s if they ask, I don’t randomly go about forcing my beliefs onto others. How arrogant would that be? I will say, because that I have been open to working with animal products many of my friends (who’ve regularly eating my food) eat less animal products now since they know that adding produce to the mix does not mean the food will taste bad. It won’t, if you know how to prepare food correctly.

Cold weather, warm mittens; knitting two at a time

Aynaria 1 Comment

Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we’ve got no place to go
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!!

The past few days have been very chilly in Maryland, some days our temperature didn’t climb over 10 F. With weather like that you want to stay warm when you brave the elements outside.

Of course I went down a mental checklist to see if there is anything that was needed and the only thing that popped into my brain was mittens for my daughter! Well… that’s an easy fix. I told my daughter to choose yarn that she liked and after she made her selection I casted on 40 stitches. Ever since I switched over to circular knitting needles any project that requires a pair is done two at a time.

The mittens I’m knitting will be an upgrade for my daughter since they replace the mittens I knitted (last year) for my rapidly growing daughter. The girl is ten years old and is only two inches shorter than me. Also, she is now wearing a 7.5 shoe. She’s a beautiful, tall, slim and kindhearted girl. My daughter rarely asks for me to knit her anything. She can see the time it takes to create many of the items I make, but I do it for her anyway because she’s worth the time.

Knitting two at a time mittens_1.1.4.14

These mittens have knitted up fairly quickly and I must say it’s going much faster since I’m doing them two at a time. I don’t have to worry about the gauge on one being possibly different, since they are being done at the same time. Also, if the inspiration bug hits and I decide to add different stitches as I go, I don’t have to remember what row that happened since I’m knitting both mittens at the same time.

If you want to know how knitting two at a time is done on circular needles, check out the above video by Liat Gat.