It’s been a little over a month since I started my mother, and it’s looking beautiful–if you think slimy white masses can be beautiful! It’s sitting on the top of my first batch, getting thicker by the day. The only change I made to your recipe is that leaving the tea in while the final batch cooled made it steep for several hours, which seemed too strong. So I tried it again, steeping it in half the water required for fifteen minutes, removing it, and then adding the remaining half of water, which cooled the mixture faster.

I can’t wait to taste it! Thanks so much for showing us how.

I loved reading about all your September thrills. Are you sure you don’t want to start a blog? It sure would be fun to read more about edible cell models, and campfire cannolis, and Crow Planet….

What was I a twitter with in September… hmm … my first homemade pesto ( I know, where was I)… making edible cell models and researching whether an ostrich egg is truly considered one single cell- and it is! … Sierra City … camping and watching my two boys really enjoy each other… campfire cannolis ( marshmallows wrapped in crescent roll dough and roasted until melted- yum) … playing one of my favorite Bach Minuets as a two violin duet with my 7 year old … reading a book of !essays! called Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness … and most of all falling in love with my husband again who was home from work for three blissful weeks.

Oh, how I can relate. Let’s call it I’ve-bought-the-book-but-haven’t syndrome! It’s not such a bad trait, though, to be someone who aspires to learn. ‘Cause it’s not like you’re doing nothing, you pickle-making, cake-baking, tomato-growing, scarf-knitting, nature-table-building, aperture dork!

Yes, prairie dresses and cached firearms–Chris keeps asking me when we’re all going to start forging buckles for our shoes.

I’ll bet your older girl would. At the workshop last week, when we were sharing favorite words and stumbling on the meaning of one, I looked at S for help just as someone else shouted out that she would know the definition…

and also, the sweater! it’s incredible and so much farther along than when i saw it. i’m so glad i know you. for a myriad of reasons.

I will join you in lock-stepping over any edge — there are two jars of kefir water brewing on my kitchen counter as we speak. I have plans for yogurt next week and vinegar this winter. Can prairie dresses and cached firearms be far behind?

My older girl might enjoy that book. ..