Pecan harvest

We're harvesting pecans this week. Bill gathers and I shuck (take off the green hulls). This is yesterday's loot--about 10% of the total harvest, Bill guesses. I haven't stopped to estimate the number of pecan pies represented here, but believe me, there will be plenty. Not to mention chopped pecans in fudge, cakes, and cole slaw (our favorite). Yum.

I am also weaving, but last night I had to stop and repair the warp brake on my loom (a Schacht rigid heddle), which meant taking the trestle stand apart at the bottom, while I watched the second in the Tom Selleck/Robert B. Parker series: Stone Cold. Super Selleck acting/looks/voice (love that voice), superb Parker dialogue. I'm giving myself an A++ for fixing the loom myself, and not asking Bill to do it. Here are my two latest scarves (can you tell that Christmas is coming coming coming?) I'm warping this evening for another scarf.

                                                                                                                                                                                    
















And I'm writing, too. I'm keep progress reports and book thoughts on the Pecan Springs Journal blog, so if you're interested in how Wormwood is coming along, check over there.

UPDATE (Thursday, Oct. 18): I've had to set the book aside for more work on the pecans. These are drying on the front porch--it's about 2/3 of the total crop. Each flat contains the yield from one pecan tree, most of which are very young, still. Total (when we're done): around 200 pounds, which will probably be about 100 pounds when the nuts have dried. Who knew.

Reading note. Perhaps if my mother hadn't laid me down for a nap on a chenille bedspread at age two, I wouldn't have become a weaver.--Linda Ligon, This is How I Go When I Go Like That

Comments

[Sheri Lee]

Happy Thanksgiving to my favorite author! May the holidays bring you many blessings!

[Sandy]

How in the world do you find time to do all that you do? By the way, I really love that blue scarf. I taught myself to weave last year, using books and info off the internet. I appreciate how much time it takes.

Those pe-cons (I am from Oklahoma) look good.

[andylynne]

That pastel number is right up my alley. Oh you said it was a christmans present. Besides someone beat me to the request. Pecans are my favorite nut now. Funny before I married I always used walnuts or almonds, never pecans. Pecans were the only thing my husband would eat. Now I use almost nothing else. He made wonderful Pecan Pralines. A great apple pecan salad with cream, and added to chicken salad they are wonderful. Enjoy your bountiful harvest.Hope your hands didn't get to tired!

[Ann Bevak]

Susan, it's ALL YOUR FAULT! Your many adventures with fibers have gotten me stirred up again, so here I am learning to do a felted purse -- with 3 or 4 unfinished old knit projects still sitting around -- cable sweater for one.
Love those pecans -- received a huge basket of them some years ago from my son's in-laws in Mississippi.
I'm starting the latest Diane Mott Davidson book -- have you read her? Her Goldy the caterer has some great recipes.
Ann

[Jinni Turkelson]

Susan, I'm envious of all those pecans--one of my favorite nuts. I found a fabulous recipe for "Southern" pecan pound cake in Midwest Living Magazine, of all places. It was really yummy. The baker's secret was that she puts it in a cold oven! ( Of course, she then turns it on) :)
I, too, am a Tom Selleck fan and can see him as McQuaid when your books are made into a mini-series!
While we were in Sedona we visited a "ghost town" near there called Jerome. It was founded by Jennie Jerome's cousin. I was in the middle of Death at Whitechapel then so it seemed timely to see her picture in their museum. Great town with lots of funky shops.Happy Harvesting!

[Rondi]

I love that Tom Selleck serves as your model (somewhat) for McQuaid in the China stories. I'm a huge Selleck fan...and an equally huge China fan. I've been reading your blog for awhile now, and enjoy it immensely. I have read all the books in all three of your series as well. Just finished the last Robin Page book this weekend. I was sad to see that series end. I look forward to more in the other two, though.

[Dani]

I suppose it's too late to place Christmas "orders" for a scarf and five pounds of pecans?? LOL. I was drooling for both after reading this post! After showing the Man o' the Place your weaving, he covets even more a loom of his own. Perhaps that will have to go on his Christmas list.