Sunday, August 1, 2010

Things I did today

Got up,  read a couple of chapters of American Gods by Neil Gaiman.  I can't believe I've never heard of this book,  it's fantastic, was up waaaay too late reading it last night, and now that the Scientist has picked it up, there may be a tussle about who gets to read it tonight.
 
Went to the grocery store,  in the Scientist's car  because there were bags of dog food and lots of other bulky-heavy dry goods that needed replenishing.

Had a picnic lunch with the Scientist of "clean out the fridge" bruschetta and some yummy dutch cheese.

Made blueberry preserves (haven't done any canning since the flood).  We had a lot of blueberries that weren't really spoiled, but a bit dessicated and unattractive.  Added cardamom and ginger. Yum.  It's almost not worth canning 2 jars-  we could probably use them up before they spoiled if they were stored in the fridge,  except for the fact that there's already fig conserve, and strawberry jam, and apple butter open.

Put dinner in the crockpot.

Spent 4 hours finishing up one room of the basement cork floor.

Bought not one, but TWO 70 year old bicycles.


Yes, yes I know,  it's totally crazy and unexpected,  but I think that the 1938 Lady Tourist may be the bike of my dreams.  When we got them home, I had to take her for another ride around the block,  and then another block- might have kept going except for not having lights.
Much more to come, but for now here's a teaser photo.  (please note the lovely cork floor too!)

15 comments:

  1. Hey, the cork floor looks great!

    Oh yeah, and the BICYCLES : )

    I was very glad to hear that you were the one who bought these and am looking forward to your updates. And I agree that this bicycle feels *great* to ride, maybe even better than the DL-1!

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  2. Fantastic job on the flooring, is this the last room you want to do now that your done?

    Just finished reading about these two ladies being for sale/sold to some un-named person. You devious scaulieway, here's to you, nice purchase. I'm expecting lots of pictures and stories now.

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  3. I saw these on Velouria's blog and I'm very pleased to know I'll be seeing them again on yours. Enjoy, and ride them in good health!

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  4. I look forward to hearing how you and they adapt to each other.

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  5. WOW! Congratulations, what fun!!
    Neal has the best bikes...

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  6. oh that is so awesome you bought those two bikes:) I was really hoping they would go to someone on my blog list:)

    I look forward to reading your restoration entries on both bikes.

    If I had been closer and back to work I would have grabbed them both myself, especially the Dawn:)

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  7. Congrats on the bikes, and nice job on the floor! Enjoy them all.

    Blueberry conserve with ginger & cardamom sounds inspired... Will have to try it. All of the blueberries we're getting right now seem to turn into pies.

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  8. Corey-
    Not much difference between blueberry conserve and pie filling..
    I didn't use any pectin, just let them cook down over low heat for an hour while we had our picnic.
    I would be especially careful though to remove the cardomom or use ground if you were putting it in a pie. I fished all the pods out before canning them, but biting down on a whole pod would be pretty intense.

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  9. Wow, what great bike finds! I'm totally jealous...I have three bikes and am already aching for another...craigslist here I come!

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  10. Great bikes--congratulations! I tried them out a little while back and loved the old Tourist (rather makes one feel like a suffragette off to protest). Anyway, I will follow with interest your work on the Dawn Tourist--I have one from the late 1940s that is a 5-speed (3 speed on right and two more on the left). This was apparently an option though relatively rare. She is just being made road worthy now...

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  11. I just heard that you'd bought these and I am tickled! I own a slightly older sister of the 1938 Lady and I agree--it is dreamy to ride. Can't wait to read more notes and see more pics. Do they need work to be road-worthy or are they ready to go?

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  12. Wow! So awesome! I can't wait to hear/see more.

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  13. I got the same model Ladies Tourist earlier this year and agree it's a wonderful bike to ride. Great to hear there are others out there being used as day to day bikes.

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