As it's Saturday, I can allow myself the luxury of waiting for daylight before I get out of bed. Nice! Of course, mippies were active before daylight! That resulted in some weird early morning dreams! Ah, well ... I'm up, mippies are out and I have my coffee.
Not half an hour later and all mippies are back! Wanting attention ...
Okay, mippies got their cuddles, played catch, picked up, and now three are curled up on the bed. I've loaded the machine, so I'll have clean clothes next week.
I miss having an open-plan kitchen ... I don't like being shut in while pottering in the kitchen, without entertainment and away from mippies. I used to enjoy chopping and preparing everything at my leisure with a show on the PC, or an audiobook - I've always done it that way. Ah, well ... hopefully, one day again! For now, I'll just have to make do. I guess that's also why I haven't made many special dishes for myself here ...
I've baked two trays of cookies, and I'm in the process of making another batch of cookie dough. And then ... internet crap again! Seriously - I detest all this 'sign in', 'log in' and password crap.
Well, the cold front is clearly here - it's as windy as PE here today! And cold! Yikes! Unfortunately, baking doesn't warm up the kitchen.
Oh great! Just received an SMS that a transaction on my credit card has been declined - I'm not trying to make a transaction, so ... call the Fraud Hotline! Enquiries is useless - after 4 minutes of listening to crap, I called the Fraud Hotline. They want details from the SMS itself - said he'd call me back ... that was 5 minutes ago! Sigh! Ah, call received. He doesn't see any attempt at a transaction, no 'declined' transaction on his side, so he suggests to put the card on temporary hold. Only catch: I need to call again tomorrow, to lift that hold. No problem! Better safe than sorry! Can't afford someone else spending money that I then have to pay back!
So now that my cookie jar is filled to the brim again, what's my next move? Well, it's now three in the afternoon - the internet is not lekker. Which is a problem, as I still need to send out proof of residence - in the form of a bank statement. Which I get online. Sigh. And what I'm writing now, isn't saving, either ... ai,ai, ai! You'd think I live in the middle of Africa, wouldn't you? This is not supposed to be a backwards, third world country with no technology ... although I'm beginning to wonder whether that's where we're going, now?
Anyway, I'm now starting to play around with the tobacco leaves. I have some half-processed stuff in tubs (I'm using margarine tubs) and the batch I left in water and then put on a tray to dry during last week. The whole lot is somewhat too strong for me, but I'll have to use it up or give it away or something.
I've now taken about a leaf and a half - I don't know how others get these picture-perfect leaves out of the bag. Mine don't look quite that pretty. More like they're half shredded, with quite a lot of shreds, too. Anyway, I've taken about a leaf and a half and put that inside a sieve into a bowl of luke warm water. I let it soak about ten minutes, then lift it out and change the water. During the first soak, once the leaves were soft, I did my best to tear out the hard veins. It helps to wring out the leaves in the water, like a sponge. That's when most of the strength comes out and the water turns brown. It's now soaking the third time, after which I'll lay it out on a baking tray again to dry. Can't put it outside - too windy. Can't hang it up, like everyone else seems to be doing - the pieces just aren't big enough anymore. Even before I remove the veins, they don't look like whole leaves.
Anyway, this whole 'roll into a tight sausage and cut thin strips off' isn't working for me, either. So I'm just cutting think strips off the bunch, and then cut cross-wise again. I've now got fairly large pieces, which I've spread on a baking sheet on a tray - trying to separate them as much as I can. Then I put the oven on, and just let it heat up. Now the whole kit and caboodle is in the oven ... leaving it there till tomorrow to dry.
Three mips were home very, very early! I decided to get them inside, rather than have them go off again and leaving me to wait till late. Only Mini was still out - but she never lets me wait long! They were inside by about half past five today!
I decided to take a shower, just to warm up. I've had more potatoes, re-steamed ... I think I'll treat myself to a custard now! And then off to bed ...
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